Contact: Brock Reisler, Assistant Executive Director, breisler@midwestconference.org
 
DECORAH, Iowa – The Grinnell College men’s soccer program has won the Midwest Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament crown for the first time in 17 years with a 3-1 penalty kicks win over Luther College on Sunday afternoon in the MWC Tournament final after the two teams played to a draw through two overtimes and 110 minutes.
 
Sunday’s win marks the fifth Midwest Conference Men’s Soccer Tournament title in program history for the Pioneers, who previously earned championships in 1989, 1993, 1994 and 2009.
 
The sides battled through a scoreless and defensive first half, as there were a combined six shots between the sides (and just two on goal). Each team had chances in the second half, but the game remained scoreless throughout regulation. Grinnell had multiple chances in the first overtime as did Luther in the second, but a 0-0 tie was forced to be decided via penalty kicks.
 
Luther’s first shot ricocheted off the crossbar, opening the door for Grinnell as Jake Lu connected on its first attempt. Grinnell’s keeper Jack Alexander stopped the Norse’s second shot, and Samuel Gojjam subsequently gave GC a 2-0 lead. After each team missed, the Norse briefly stayed alive with a goal by Nels Mortenson, but Grinnell’s Luke Akosa sent the Pioneers to the NCAA Tournament with GC’s third tally of the penalty kick session.
 
Grinnell was outshot 13-6 in the match, but Jack Alexander played all 110 minutes in goal and recorded six saves. Gojjam was the top Pioneer offensively, logging three shots.
 
Luther ends its season 11-2-5. Francesco Mungari led the Norse offensively with six shots, while Will Lookingbill made one save in goal playing 45 minutes. Blair Nelsen played 65 minutes as the keeper but was not forced to make a save.
 
With the win, Grinnell will participate in its second NCAA Tournament in school history (first since 2009).
 
Grinnell finds out its NCAA Tournament opponent and destination on Monday, November 9. The selection show begins at 10 a.m. and will be streamed live on NCAA.com.
 
Purchase champion apparel here: https://midwestconferencemenssoccertournament.itemorder.com/