ST. LOUIS – Following an offensive explosion in its season opener and facing the ninth-ranked team in the NAIA, Missouri Baptist men's soccer kept the good times rolling with a gritty win against MidAmerica Nazarene.
 
Despite two of head coach Jake Alvernia's starters from the MBU (2-0) win against Brescia out with injuries in right back Emilio Hernandez and forward Eliman Kane, the Spartans got solid contributions across the board for the 2-1 victory. MBU battled back from 1-0 down to equalize and then took the lead, both goals coming off the right foot of senior Louie Perez, giving MNU (1-1) its first loss of the season and keeping Mobap undefeated.
 
The first half was a tense affair and both teams were unable to break through early on. The deadlock was broken by a lightning quick Pioneer attack in behind the Spartan defense that resulted in a Nicolas Theberge goal in the 15th minute (14:10). The Spartan defense would then buckle down, only allowing one more clear goal-scoring chance for MNU; a 4-on-1 breakaway that was snuffed out by goalkeeper Callum McKinlay diving on a dangerous cross.
 
MBU would equal the score 20 minutes later, as junior Jack Carney's run behind the defense and a well placed pass from midfielder Matteo Uez forced Pioneer goalie Enzo Carvalho to come off his line. Carney's run would be stopped by Carvalho, but it resulted in a loose ball, which senior Louie Perez pounced on to slot home in an empty net (34:09).
 
The two sides would go to the break tied 1-1 and the tight game would continue into the second half, with both teams looking to get the ball up the field on long passes to the forwards. Freshman Marko Dordevic did an excellent job all game of holding up play and serving as a target man for the Spartans, as did substitution Rasmus Svensson. A long throw in to Svensson, who controlled the ball and initiated a crafty move between two MNU defenders, allowed the junior to cross into the box for Perez. The St. Louis native hammered it into the roof of the net for his second of the game (71:10) and fifth on the season.
 
Mobap would hold on over the last 19 minutes to seal the win. In all, the Spartans outshot the Pioneers 13-to-11 and forced Carvalho to make five saves. It was the first win over a Top-10 team in Alvernia's tenure.
 
"It's unbelievable," Alvernia said after the game. "MidAmerica is always tough… so we knew it was going to be a fight, and we just needed to be ready for it. I feel like we're better this year, we're fighting for every inch this year.
 
"Credit to the guys. You know, I say it a lot: it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be together. And today, we were together."
 
The Missouri Baptist non-conference homestand continues next week, as Louisiana State University-Alexandria comes to town on Friday, September 2nd at 5 P.M.