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Champions
0
Grinnell GRI (14-4-2, 6-3-0)
0
Luther Luther (11-2-5, 8-0-1)
Grinnell GRI
(14-4-2, 6-3-0)
0
Final
0
Luther Luther
(11-2-5, 8-0-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 OT 2 OT 3 F
Grinnell GRI 0 0 0 0 0 0
Luther Luther 0 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Ted Schultz

Grinnell men's soccer team wins PK nail-biter at Luther to advance to NCAA D-III Tournament

Pioneers claim first MWC Tourney crown since 2009

DECORAH, Iowa - The last time Grinnell College's men's soccer team played in a high-stakes penalty kick shootout, the Pioneers nipped Beloit College to earn the Midwest Conference Tournament title.

History repeated itself 17 years and one day later, as third-seeded Grinnell won a nail-biter that went to penalty kicks at top-seeded Luther College Sunday afternoon. The victory over the region's fourth-ranked team sends the Pioneers to the NCAA Division III Tournament for the first time since 2009. The selection show is scheduled for 10 a.m. Central time Monday on ncaa.com.

Grinnell rose to the occasion while playing its third MWC Tourney game in a six-day span. The Pioneers battled Luther to a scoreless tie through regulation and both overtimes, forcing the teams into penalty kicks.

Luther began the shootout and missed as the ball bounced off the left end post. Jake Lu '30 followed for the Pioneers and put the ball into the lower left side of the net. Grinnell keeper and captain Jack Alexander '29 stepped up after that, diving to his left to keep the next Norse shot out of the goal. Senior captain Samuel Gojjam '27 the entered the box and delivered a perfect line drive into the lower left side of the net to put Grinnell ahead 2-0.

The next Luther shot ricocheted off the cross bar and captain Beacan Mottl '28 barely missed to the left, keeping it a two-score margin. After the Norse scored, Luke Akosa '30 won it for the Pioneers as he faked out the keeper and delivered the game-winner into the lower right side of the net to send the visitors into celebration mode.

Grinnell, which posted its fourth shutout in a row, has 11 for the season to tie the school record. Alexander has eight shutouts this season, third in GC history, and his victory total of 14 is tied for the school mark.

The 14-4-2 Pioneers earned their first-ever tie against Luther after losing the previous five meetings in a series dating back to 1991. The Norse finished the season at 11-2-5.

Grinnell, which lost to Luther 3-0 at the end of September, showed it meant business from the start of the defensive-minded game. Each team managed just three shots in the first half.

Luther won the shots battle 13-6 and held an 11-4 edge in corners. Getting shots for Grinnell were Gojjam, who had three, and Emmett Krez '29, Jack Pennachio '28 and Daniel Katsanovich '30.

Alexander was electric at the keeper spot for Grinnell, posting six saves.

The title is Grinnell's sixth MWC Tourney crown in history, with the others being 1984, 1989, 1993, 1994 and 2009. The Pioneers will be making their second appearance in the NCAA D-III Tourney.
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