Morningside women's soccer hungry for national run

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — The Morningside women's soccer team didn't spend the past year trying to be the same group they were — they spent it trying to be better. That work has them right where they wanted to be: the NAIA women's national tournament.

The Mustangs earned their spot by winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference regular-season title, and will face Southern Oregon in a neutral-site match at 6 p.m. Thursday in Winona Lake, Ind.

"We aren't just happy to be here, we want to win and get to the final site," said junior midfielder Tuva Hammarlund. "We aren't here to play around. We need the hunger for us to win. We're such a good team when we have that hunger."

Morningside went 11-1-5 throughout the season, and went 8-1-2 in league play. They won five home matches and drew two, and its only loss of the regular season came against Hastings on Sept. 20.

Since then, the Mustangs have dug deep to maintain their promise of working harder.

"I think every single one of our seniors took their game and just elevated it by just a few levels and that's all that's what we needed," said assistant coach Jackie Martinez. "They want this program to just elevate in every way and can't ask for a better group to be honest. And I think they're showing the younger group that this is what we do."

Defense has been a pillar all season. Since that loss to Hastings, Morningside has given up 10 goals, posted three shutouts, and closed the regular season with a 0-0 draw against Dakota Wesleyan. Martinez credited Lily Sidel, Emma Feigl, and Sami Murray for setting the tone in the back.

"Last year, they were wondering what was going on and what they needed to do," Martinez said. "We said come in fitness on a hundred, and be coachable, open-minded and willing to do what (head coach) Tom (Maxon) and I ask. They were willing to do it. They elevated their game and it showed."

Offensively, the Mustangs took a major step forward. The Mustangs scored 46 times on 304 shots in 17 matches, and had a shot on goal percentage of .487. Last season, Morningside scored 28 times on 303 shots. Keyera Harmon led with 11 goals, while Hammarlund added 10, and Melissa Tsatiris chipped in seven.

"We have people that can of course also come in and score those chances," Hammarlund said. "So I think we were just determined to actually finish those goals. We know Tom and Jackie are talking a lot about those games we had last year when we just scored one more goal than we would've been maybe second place or had a chance at nationals."

The Mustangs didn't receive a numerical seed going into the tournament, and they're fine with that. They like playing the underdog role.

"People go in there knowing they just have to give a hundred percent and then we can do more," Tsatiris said. "And if everyone is going on the field and thinking, okay, I'm going to give a hundred percent, we automatically are going to play better and even get more chances and the willingness will be there as well."

Tsatiris, Hammarlund, and the other Mustangs will certainly play hard for Maxon, who last week was named the GPAC Coach of the Year. The Mustangs were picked to finish fourth before the season started.

"He loves Morningside, he believes in Morningside," Martinez said. "He wants a very good culture, and a community. I am proud to come back and always feel welcomed in a culture that we've built over the last 10, 20 years."