Warriors Show Fight but Fall Short in Home Opener

FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University hosted Columbia College for its home opener on Tuesday afternoon. The game, originally scheduled for Wednesday night, was moved up due to an incoming winter storm. After a hard-fought battle, the Warriors fell to the Cougars, 16-11.

Midland struck first, with Lane Kallhoff scoring off an assist from Gavin Bartling at the 9:34 mark. Columbia quickly responded, netting a goal at 8:21 to tie the game. Carson Meier answered with an unassisted goal at 5:21 to reclaim the lead for Midland. However, the Cougars responded with two late goals, taking the advantage at 1:43 to end the first quarter.

Columbia carried its offensive momentum into the second quarter, scoring back-to-back goals to extend its lead to 5-2. Meier broke the Warriors' scoring drought with another unassisted goal at 7:26. The Cougars added another goal at 3:46, but Cameron Teem quickly responded for Midland, scoring off a Meier assist at 3:09. Columbia found the net again with 38 seconds remaining, but Midland had the final say of the half, as Asher Thomas buried an unassisted goal with 18 seconds left, bringing the halftime score to 7-5 in favor of Columbia.

The Cougars opened the third quarter with a goal to extend their lead to 8-5, but Midland fought back with three consecutive goals to tie the game at 8-8. Tanner Jamison started the rally with a goal off a Meier assist, followed by two more goals from Meier, the first assisted by Brian Cole. Columbia ended its scoring drought at the 4:09 mark, regaining the lead. A Midland own goal at 3:12 widened the gap to two as the teams headed into the final quarter.

Meier kicked off the fourth quarter with a power-play goal assisted by Cole at 14:25, cutting the deficit to one. However, Columbia responded with back-to-back goals to extend its lead. Midland kept pushing, with Jamison finding the net at 9:31, but the Cougars pulled away with three unanswered goals, making it 16-10. Meier added one final goal for Midland at the 1:07 mark, but the Warriors ultimately fell short.

Goalkeeper Sean Erickson made 12 saves on 52 shots faced. Columbia outshot Midland 52-31.

Meier led the Warriors with six goals and two assists.

Midland (0-5) will travel to Dubuque, Iowa, to take on Clarke in a Heart of America Athletic Conference game. The game is scheduled for a noon start on Saturday, March 22.