March 29, 2024

Mustang boys can’t finish rally against Lions

MONROE — The Des Moines Christian Lions did enough to keep Prairie City-Monroe at arm’s length during a boys soccer match Tuesday night.

The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead and then withstood two goal-scoring rallies by the Mustangs during a 4-3 victory, spoiling PCM’s Senior Night.

“It was a fun game to watch, but it would have been a lot more fun if we could have gotten that fourth goal,” PCM coach Darrin Telfer said.

The 2-0 lead came in the first 15 minutes of the match. Jaron Ruble hooked in a long shot from the corner of the field that sailed over the head of Mustang senior goalie Mason Burkman.

The second goal came on a penalty kick from Shawn McGuire.

Senior Chase Kuecker took advantage of a penalty kick to cut PCM’s deficit to 2-1. However, the Mustangs missed their first PK of the match, and that was a turning point in the match.

“We have been working the penalty kicks,” Telfer said. “The one Chase made was our first one of the season. We missed our first five. I think it’s an adrenaline thing.”

The Mustangs have three wins this season.

The loss to the Lions was their fifth straight loss, but they are much more competitive this season than last year when they went winless.

“We are competing more this year. We have three wins, and I think some of the guys are happy with that,” Telfer said. “But we are getting more and more guys who aren’t happy with just winning three.”

PCM trailed 3-1 at halftime after Tommy Helgen scored his fifth goal of the year with 4:43 on the clock.

Sophomore Misha Seebeck scored his seventh goal of the season to trim the Lions’ lead to 3-2 early in the second half. Seebeck gave a strong individual effort and kicked the ball to the corner of an open net after Lion goaltender Sam Bruxvoort came out of his box to defend the ball.

After Des Moines Christian pushed its lead back to two goals, freshman Nick Dredge scored a goal similar to Seebeck’s with 8:48 to play.

Seebeck sent the ball to the middle of the field, forcing Bruxvoort again to come out of his box. Dredge had an empty net just in front of the goal and put it away to score the first varsity goal of his career.

Unfortunately for the Mustangs, they couldn’t get the tying goal and dropped to 3-9 this season.

The win by Des Moines Christian (9-4) was its seventh straight victory. The three goals scored by PCM were tied for the most the Lions have allowed this season.

Burkman had seven saves for the Mustangs.

Des Moines Christian outshot PCM 24-9. The Lions had an 11-4 advantage in shots on goal and a 6-2 surplus in corner kicks.

PCM hosts North Polk at 5:30 p.m. Friday.

The Mustangs begin postseason play at 5 p.m. Monday at Class 2A No. 12 ADM.