The Marshalltown Community College men's soccer team opened up its 2015 campaign with a 3-1 victory over Iowa State Club on Saturday afternoon, extending the team's streak of six straight years with a win in the season-opener. Alberto Morales (Granada, Spain/Santa Fe DH) contributed a pair of goals, including the game-winner for MCC.
Iowa State Club stunned the Tigers with an early goal in the fifth minute of action and held on to the lead for over 30 minutes. Freshman Adrian Gomez (Ponteareas, Spain/Aceimar) knotted the game at one apiece in the 36th minute with his first-career goal and Morales put MCC on top just six minutes later. The Tigers wasted little time in the second half as Morales received a through ball just 56 seconds into the opening frame to secure the win for the Tigers.
Rafael Pereira (Lisbon, Portugal/Vergilio Ferreira) earned his first-career win in net, stopping five shots from the opposition. The Tigers controlled every facet of the game, including a 19-10 advantage in total shots and a 4-0 edge in corner kicks.
An early cross on a windy day found the back of the net for Iowa State Club at the 4:14 mark of the first half, but the Tigers maintained a majority of the possession throughout the opening portion of the contest. The Tigers found multiple openings for shots midway through the first, but misfired on the opponent's net.
In the 36th minute, Iowa State Club was whistled for a foul 20 yards away from their own net. Gomez stepped up and used the wind to his advantage, curving a shot into the near upper corner for the equalizer.
The tie was short-lived as Gomez found himself on the other end of the play in the 42nd minute, finding a streaking Morales who buried a low shot in the corner to put MCC up 2-1, a lead the Tigers carried into halftime.
Sophomore captain Eniz Smajlovic (Ankeny, IA/Ankeny) attacked the offensive zone to start the second half and played a through ball that found the foot of Morales who netted his second score of the day, providing an insurance goal for the Tigers. The MCC defense stifled Iowa State Club the remainder of the way and held on for the victory.
The Tigers head north for their next contest and will take on Kennedy King College in Chicago, IL at 4:00 PM on Friday, August 28. MCC will face Carl Sandburg College at 2:00 PM on Sunday to complete the team's weekend road trip.
