South Dakota Mines men’s soccer defeated Dakota Wesleyan 5-1 on Friday afternoon in Mitchell, South Dakota. The victory brings the Hardrockers’ record to 2-0-1 on the season.
Early Pressure and First-Half Goals
The Hardrockers established control early in the match, recording four shots in the opening 19 minutes. In the 27th minute, Parker Yocom assisted Nickolas North to break the scoreless tie and give South Dakota Mines a 1-0 advantage. Just six minutes later, Erik Castanon scored his first collegiate goal off an assist from Zach Peroff, extending the lead to 2-0.
South Dakota Mines finished the first half with six total shots. Defensively, the Hardrockers limited Dakota Wesleyan’s opportunities before halftime, heading into the break with a comfortable two-goal margin.
Expanding the Lead in the Second Half
South Dakota Mines quickly put the game out of reach after the intermission. In the 50th minute, Jacob Miklas fed Alvin Udoto for a goal, marking Udoto’s second score of the season. Two minutes later, Castanon tallied an assist on North’s second goal of the match. North currently leads the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) with four goals across three matches played.
Julen Arteaga added a fifth goal for the Hardrockers in the 72nd minute, with an assist from Kaulden Hood. Dakota Wesleyan avoided the shutout when Lewis Cunningham scored in the 85th minute, bringing the final score to 5-1.
Match Statistics and Historical Significance
The Hardrockers generated 14 total shots, landing eight on target. On the defensive end, South Dakota Mines held Dakota Wesleyan to just a single shot on goal throughout the 90 minutes. Seven different Hardrockers recorded a point during the contest.
The five-goal output marks the most goals they have scored since Sept. 15, 2017, when the team defeated Colorado Christian 5-1.
“It was a great performance all around from us,” head coach Teren Schuster said. “To go on the road and be up 2-0 at halftime is never easy. Our attitude and energy towards the match really showed itself and made it comfortable for us early in the second half.”
Upcoming Schedule
South Dakota Mines will be at Air Force on Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. Following that road matchup, the Hardrockers return home to host Trinity Bible on Sept. 20 at 11 a.m.
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