Double-overtime heartstopper headlines GPAC unbeaten showdowns

SIOUX CITY, IOWA – Immersed in a defensive lock-up, Morningside University head coach Tom Maxon and his staff were looking for an offensive answer Saturday, Sept. 18.

They found it as the Elwood Olsen Stadium scoreboard was ticking down to a potential double-overtime draw. Junior defender Jakob Fronmueller (Gerstetten, Germany), with the Mustangs pressing forward against a stonewall University of Jamestown defense, lofted a pass from the right side that found the head of sophomore midfielder/defender Jona Fischer (Molfsee, Germany). Fischer got above the Jimmies' backline and beat opposing goalkeeper Alex Hamer to the left side of the net for a game-winning score that sent the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' No. 21-ranked squad running on to their home pitch in celebration. Fischer's first collegiate goal and match-deciding strike helped send the two-time defending league champs to their fifth straight victory and kept them unbeaten on the loop standings.

Morningside, moving to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the GPAC, was edged in shots 13-12 by the visitors. Junior goalkeeper Bjarne Huth (Bad Vilbel, Germany) proved a menacing specter in net again for Mside, posting his second clean sheet of the year and running a current streak of scoreless minutes to more than 300 with three saves, two of which occurred on breakaway tries from UJ's offense.

Jamestown's women staved off the home side's attempt for a home sweep. Freshman midfielder Antonia Janssen (Darmstadt, Germany) managed to aid her teammates in keeping pace with the high-flying Jimmies' offense for a time, with two goals occurring on just two attempts. However, UJ kept its unbeaten overall and conference streak intact, claiming a 4-2 win.

Mside's men and women take to the road Wednesday, Sept. 22, for a pair of loop matches against Northwestern College. Kickoffs are 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:15 p.m. for the men.