GRINNELL, Ia. -- The Ripon men's soccer program (4-2-1, 2-1 MWC) scored a conference win over Grinnell College (7-1, 2-1 MWC) this Saturday, September 26, giving the Pioneers their first loss of the season.
The conference match up turned into a contest of defensive consistency and offensive opportunity for the Red Hawks as they took on the undefeated Pioneers. Grinnell put up six first half shots, three on target, while Ripon managed just a single off-target attempt. GoalkeeperÂ
Sebastian Covarurbias (Madison, Wis., Madison West HS) and the Ripon defense stayed strong, maintaining a 0-0 scoreline as the first half came to an end.Â
Weathering more Grinnell shots in the second half, Ripon kept the Pioneers scoreless, but struggled to find their own scoring opportunity. The Red Hawks's sole shot attempt of the second would prove crucial, with forwardÂ
Moaye Yao (Oregon, Wis., Vel Phillips Memorial HS) firing a shot from the left side of the box, burying the first goal of the game into the right side net in the 72nd minute. With almost twenty minutes left to defend, Covarurbias and the defense put up one of their best performances of the season, withstanding 11 shots and recording 8 saves across the second half. A final save in the 88th minute marked Ripon stifling Grinnell's last chance, and the Red Hawks ended a seven-game winning streak to notch their second conference win of the season.
The Red Hawks return to action this Tuesday, September 29, at UW-Stevens Point. The Pointers enter the contest 4-4 this season, coming off a 3-2 win over Coe College.
Â
