Mustang
SOCCER WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 28 Morningside resumes Great Plains Athletic Conference play this week, squaring off with the Broncos of Hastings College.
THE SERIES The series history between Morningside and Hastings leans strongly in favor of the Broncos, who have been a perennial GPAC powerhouse, last winning the league title in 2018. The picture over the last five seasons still favors Hastings, but paints the picture of a Morningside team that has continued to improve and can compete with the talented Broncos. In fact, it was Morningside that picked up the win in 2020’s meeting before playing to a draw last season.
THE MATCH-UP Morningside enters today’s contest 1-2 in the league with a 4-4 record overall. Hastings is 2-1 in the conference and 7-1 overall. Megan Messersmith anchors the Mustangs’ defense, playing almost 500 minutes in goal this season while allowing just one goal per game played and with a goals against average of 1.47. She has recorded 30 saves, and saves 79 percent of shots on goal. On the other side of the ball, Keyera Harmon leads the Mustangs, holding five goals this season. Harmon has taken a staggering 35 shots this season, with 19 shots on goal. Across the field, Hastings is anchored by Sofie Jackson-Pedersen, who matches Messersmith’s eight games on the season. Jackson-Pedersen averages .72 goals against, holding 70 saves and only allowing five goals on the season. The Hastings offense is co-led by Naomi Pedroza and Dekota Schubert, each with 10 goals this season. Shubert has 21 shots on goal, connecting with the net on more than 25 percent of her total shots. Pedroza 16 shots on goal, scoring on 40% of her 25 shots.