The Cougar men’s soccer team cleared its last non-conference hurdle with a convincing 4-1 win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior at Cougar Soccer Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Senior midfielder Kelsey Duerr tallied two more goals, bringing his team and UMAC-leading total to 13 on the season. Senior forward Brent Diggs had a goal and two assists.
Cold wind and intermittent rain at game time seemed to inhibit the first ten minutes of play as the Cougars and Yellowjackets battled at midfield. In the 12th minute, junior Mattson Towley made a solo break up the left side of the box, eluded two defenders and angled home a shot for a 1-0 lead. Four minutes later Duerr tapped home a pass-pass from midfielder Patrick O’Connor and Diggs.
Two minutes into the second half, Diggs found himself inside the box with a defender coming on. He blasted a shot that hit the crossbar and caromed down behind the keeper. A charging Duerr finished it off with a header into the net.
Diggs joked after the game, “There was a question about whether it was already in, but Duerr ran on to it, so I’ll take the assist.”
Diggs' near-miss would be rewarded in the 60th minute when O’Connor set him for a clear shot inside the 18 for the senior forward’s 11th goal of the year. It was O’Connor’s 12th assist, the most in the UMAC this season.
The Yellowjackets tallied a goal in the 79th minute. The Cougar defense held UW-Superior to three shots on the day.
“A lot of that has to do with our outside mids coming back, our inside mids working back. Teamwork and keeping it tight in the back… that’s it,” said senior defender—and reigning UMAC player of the week—Dana Veth.
The Cougars have an important road trip awaiting them this weekend when they loop through Duluth and northern Wisconsin for games against St. Scholastica and Northland College. Home-field advantage through the playoffs could hang in the balance of the Scholastica contest on Sunday afternoon.
Morris is now 13-3 on the season, undefeated in conference at 9-0. They have allowed just six goals all season.
Minnesota, Morris 4