Warriors Dominate Spires on Senior Day; Earn Conference Tourney Bid

FREMONT, Neb. - Midland University celebrated seven athletes on senior day with winds gusting in the 40-mph range against the University of Saint Mary on Sunday afternoon. The celebration continued as the Warriors dominated in the second half scoring eight unanswered goals in the 14-4 win. With the victory, they clinched the No. 3 seed in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Tournament ending their regular season 4-8 overall and 2-2 in the conference. USM stayed winless on the season with a 0-10 overall record and 0-4 in the KCAC.   

After the Spires scored first, senior Joshua Pereira evened the score 19 seconds later off a feed from Sayer Kuenzi. Wanting to take control early, senior Nick Luedke scored from 15 yards out on an assist from Pereira. Kuenzi and Dominic Jochim got in on the action slinging two past the keeper leaving the score at 4-1 after the first 15 minutes.   

In the second, the Warriors' offense went dry as the Spires picked up back-to-back goals from Carter Hale bringing them to within a goal of their opponents. Pereira, getting involved once more, sent a pass to senior Mitch Marinaro who launched a dart from the near side scoring his first goal of the season with 1:12 left on the clock.  

Out from the locker rooms with a 5-3 lead, the Warriors hit the gas scoring eight unanswered goals fueled by Kuenzi and Carson Meier completing hat-tricks on the day.   

Up 13-4, Asher Thomas forced a turnover as the Spires couldn't handle his defensive punch outs earning him a double-double (10 caused turnovers, 10 ground balls) versus the Spires. Giving the ball back to the Midland offense, senior Nick Saunsoci bulldozed his defender giving him enough space to sling one past the goalie for his first goal of the season with 25 seconds left in the match.   

The Warriors outshot their guests 61-20 and picked up over double ground balls, 33-14. The home team won 12 face-offs to the Spires 8 with Landon Scialla winning all of them for MU.  

Midland (4-8, 2-2 KCAC) clinching its matchup against No. 2 seed (RV) Columbia (6-4, 3-1 KCAC) will face off in St. Louis, Missouri on Thursday, April 20. Match time is set for 1:00 p.m. on Spartan Field at Missouri Baptist University. The Warriors will look to redeem themselves from their season-opening loss against the Cougars, where they fell 14-4.