PAPILLION, Neb. -- Robin Thomala slid in to toe-poke home the go-ahead goal in the 89th minute for Morningside University as the Mustangs edged the Bellevue University men's soccer team 2-1 on Tuesday evening at Papillion Landing.
Morningside picked up their first win to improve to 1-2-0 while Bellevue slipped to 2-2-0 with the defeat.
Midway through the first half, Jonas Markfoged put Morningside ahead. He received a throw in, made a move, turned, and fired a shot near side to beat Bruin keeper Romeo Paparesta for the 1-0 advantage.
Despite a slight 5-4 edge in shots in the first half, Bellevue was unable to find the equalizer and trailed at the intermission.
Bellevue wasted no time equalizing after the break as Oumar Sissoko drew a penalty kick after some nifty dribbling in the 50th minute. He stepped to the spot and delivered his second tally of the season.
The Bruins had two more great scoring chances. Bjarne Huth turned away a point-blank shot by Daniel Smith with his face a minute after Sissoko equalized and climbed to the top corner on Anthony Cox's perfectly hit 66th minute strike to punch the ball away to keep the game level.
With the match still tied 1-1 late, Morningside took their chance on a counterattacking play. Mathias Constantinou received the ball in behind the defense and carried it to the end line before sliding a pass across the top of the six onto the oncoming sliding foot of Robin Thomala for the game-winner.
Bellevue out-shot the Mustangs 16-11 on the night. Paparesta finished with three saves for the home side and Huth made five stops for Morningside.
The Bruins kick off four-straight games away from home on Saturday when they face #6 Missouri Valley College at 2:30 p.m. That game, part of an elite showcase event featuring four teams ranked in the top 12 of the NAIA preseason rankings, takes place in Olathe, Kan. on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University.
