[Men's Soccer] Mustangs battle, but come up short at Hastings

HASTINGS, Neb. -- Mount Mercy continued to play the way it had for the past six weeks when the team was undefeated in 10 starts, but against the defending national champion, it just wasn't enough as top-seeded Hastings (Neb.) knocked the Mustangs out of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships on Saturday at Lloyd Wilson Field.

The host Broncos (21-1-0) scored a goal in each half to top the Mustangs (12-6-3) by a score of 2-0. Hastings held a huge advantage in shots, taking 24 compared to only four by Mount Mercy. While the Mustangs didn't get a shot on goal, the Broncos got 14, all but two were stopped by freshman goalkeeper Antonio Juricic.

Matt Wadleigh's sixth goal of the year came in the 42nd minute and Jake Essi's fourth score this season finished off the scoring in the 72nd minute. Hastings advanced to the final site in Orange Beach, Ala., joining 15 other teams in the hunt for the national championship. The Broncos face St. Xavier (Ill.) (14-8-0) on Nov. 28.

An historic season comes to an end for the Mustangs, who claimed a share of their first-ever Midwest Collegiate Conference regular season title and won the MCC Tournament for the first time in school history. Mount Mercy's 27 wins over the last two seasons are the most over any two-year period in the program's history.

All that success led to postseason honors for five Mustangs, as well as

Amir Hadzic, who was named MCC Coach of the Year for the second year in a row and third time overall. Sophomore midfielder

Juan Maffey, senior defender

Jay Petersen and senior goalkeeper

Josh Putz were first-team all-conference. Junior forwards

Enrique Cortina and

Matt Rumery received all-MCC honorable mention.