DWU Athletic Department

Tiger men open home season with big win

MITCHELL, S.D. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men’s soccer team was hoping for a big crowd and a big game to open its home season, and the Tigers got both Wednesday night.

Carlos Mora

Dakota Wesleyan shut out Grace University 11-0 in front of a crowd of 550 people – a state record for attendance at a college soccer game – in the first collegiate game played at the brand new Pepsi Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.

The Tigers, who improved to 1-0-1, found the back of the net early and often against the Royals. Carlos Mora scored back-to-back goals less than three minutes into the game to give DWU an early 2-0 lead, and Trent Robbins added a goal before the six minute mark to make it 3-0.

Hugo Gonzalez and Nick Sterling each added a goal before Mora scored at the 16:51 mark for his third goal of the game. Eric Christianson scored unassisted at 40:19 to put DWU up 7-0 heading into the second half.

Dane Hagen scored back-to-back goals early in the second half to keep Dakota Wesleyan’s offense going, and Mason Hebert and Eric Moller each added a goal for the final score.

Dakota Wesleyan outshot Grace (0-1) 29-3, and had 18 shots on goal. Goalie Wes Kembel made seven saves for the Royals. Junior Jordan Werner and freshman Eric Fjerestad split time in the net for the Tigers. Werner didn’t see a single shot in the first half, and Fjerestad saved the one shot he faced in the second. All three of the Royals’ shots came late in the second half.

Hagen led DWU with six shots, including three on goal. Mora and Eric Nelson each had four shots and Sterling had three.

The Tigers travel to Texas over the Labor Day weekend. They play Southwestern Assemblies of God University at 1 p.m. Saturday in Waxahacie, Texas, before traveling to Dallas to play Dallas Christian College at noon Sept. 6.