Men hold firm for 2-1 win

The Spartan men wasted no time, scoring in the fifth minute when Elias Johansson’s free kick from near midfield found Luka Tomic in the penalty area, and Tomic headed it home for a 1-0 lead.

The advantage doubled in the 31st minute. Nebraska Wesleyan’s goalkeeper played a ball into midfield that Andre Elinoff intercepted; Elinoff quickly fed Jonatan Banuelos, who finished with his second touch. The strike was the first collegiate goal of Banuelos’ career and held up as the game-winner.

The Prairie Wolves cut the deficit to 2-1 just before halftime, scoring in the 41st minute, and pressed hard for an equalizer after the break. Goalkeeper Riley Johnson stood tall in the second half, making six of his eight saves over the final 45 minutes to preserve the win.

The victory kept the Spartans unbeaten in American Rivers Conference play at 4-0.

Women blank Prairie Wolves 2-0

The Spartan women dominated even more thoroughly, refusing to allow Nebraska Wesleyan a single shot on goal. After sustained pressure, Brooke Clark broke through in the 28th minute, finishing a sequence that began with a Claire Husnick corner kick and a Maelyn Kluever touch across the box.

Rylie Mensik doubled the lead in the 49th minute, pouncing in front of goal after a long touch by a Prairie Wolves defender. Goalkeeper Samantha Jurgens recorded her sixth shutout of the season and her second in conference play.

The win improved the Spartan women to 7-5-2 overall and 3-1-0 in the conference.

Up next

Both teams travel to Waverly, Iowa, to face the Wartburg College Knights on Oct. 21. The women play at 5:00 p.m. and the men at 7:30 p.m. at Salzwedel Field, with the men’s matchup pitting two teams still unbeaten in conference play against each other.