The MIU men’s soccer team completed a challenging three-day trip across North Iowa, facing Northwestern College, Morningside University, and Briar Cliff University.
The Pioneers fell 3–1 to Northwestern and 7–0 to Morningside — but earned a hard-fought 1–1 draw against a much larger and more experienced Briar Cliff.
Throughout the trip, goalkeeper Juan Jose Najas delivered an impressive series of double-digit saves, anchoring the defense and exemplifying MIU’s determination and spirit on the field.
Northwestern College, Orange City, September 9
In a competitive matchup, the Northwestern Raiders opened the scoring in the first half, taking a 1-0 lead into halftime — then extended their advantage In the second half, with two additional goals. MIU responded with determination as Jayden Hulley found the back of the net to put the Pioneers on the scoreboard, but the comeback effort fell short, resulting in a 3-1 final.
“This three-game trip was a true learning experience for everyone,” said head coach Rubén Sanchez. “The first game brought us back to reality with a loss against a team we should have beaten, or at least competed closely with, making us understand that a Pioneer has only one way: the 200% way.”
Morningside University, Sioux City, October 10
The Pioneers faced a challenging match against Morningside University, falling 7–0 after a strong performance from the Mustangs. Despite the scoreline, MIU showed determination throughout, with goalkeeper Juan Jose making a series of impressive saves to keep the team in contention.
The first half was defined by intense pressure from Morningside, with Kenan Kodal scoring in the 18th minute. The Mustangs continued to push forward, finding the back of the net twice more before halftime with goals from Javier Ruchelli and Jonah Timmerman, taking a 3–0 lead into the break. MIU’s defensive line, led by Alvaro Moncayo and Fabio Vieira, worked tirelessly to contain the attack while Juan Jose produced multiple crucial stops to prevent further damage.
In the second half, Morningside maintained control of possession and extended their lead with a goals from Nico Larsson and Elis Olden and two from Gustavo Garcia-Mojic. Despite the tough score, MIU continued to battle until the final whistle, with Anderson Arbelaez and Jayden Hulley creating chances and testing the Morningside defense.
Juan Jose was a standout performer for MIU, recording double-digit saves and demonstrating resilience under constant pressure. While the result was not in the Pioneers’ favor, the team displayed strong spirit and sportsmanship throughout the match.
“This game showed us the truth about how far we are from where we want to be, in every aspect: facilities, organization, and brand reputation,” Coach Ruben said. “It was a real reference point for our soccer and athletic programs at MIU.”
Briar Cliff University, Sioux City, October 11
MIU battled to a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Briar Cliff University, showing composure and resilience in a tightly contested matchup.
The opening half saw Briar Cliff controlling much of the possession and generating several offensive chances. Goalkeeper Juan Jose was in top form early, recording key saves in the first and second minutes to keep the game level.
But despite MIU’s solid defense, the Chargers broke through in the 34th minute when Alejandro Illan capitalized on a loose ball inside the box to give Briar Cliff a 1–0 lead. The Pioneers worked to respond but entered halftime trailing by one.
After the break, MIU increased the intensity, pressing higher and moving the ball with more confidence. The defense, anchored by Alvaro Moncayo and Fabio Vieira, limited Briar Cliff’s opportunities while the midfield began finding more rhythm. The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Nixon Valencia, coming off the bench, immediately scored the equalizer after a collective team buildup that caught the Chargers’ defense off guard.
The final twenty minutes saw both sides pushing for the winner.
MIU nearly took the lead in the 83rd minute when Bryan Eyiuche’s strike rattled the crossbar, followed by a close header from Anderson Arbelaez that forced a save from Briar Cliff’s keeper. On the other end, Juan Jose continued his stellar performance, denying multiple late attempts to preserve the result.
In the end, the Pioneers left Sioux City with a well-earned point, highlighting their persistence and defensive discipline.
MIU will look to build on this performance as they prepare for their next matchup.
“In this game against another NAIA Varsity opponent, we showed the true dignity that a Pioneer must have after a tough loss,” Coach Rubén said. “When life challenges you with a devastating experience, the only way to come back fast and strong is by returning to the Self. We showed why the NAIA truly believes in MIU and in our Consciousness-Based Sports approach, and the great potential we have when we work as a family. Tying with a team of 43 players and a budget 15 times bigger than ours proved our strength and belief.”
Lessons learned
“We went from less to more each day of the three days,” said goalkeeper Juan Jose Najas. “We didn’t play great the first half of the first game, but we raised our level in the second half even if the game didn’t end up the way we wanted. We learned we need to give more than a 100% if we want to continue growing.”
“The second game helped us to see the reality of our competition,” Juan Jose said. “We don’t like to lose.”
“About the last game, I can only say that I am really impressed with how we run,” he said. “We gave everything we had, and we really played as a team. Ending up in a tie showed all the effort we put in during the game and all the adversities we went through the two days before. I’m really proud of how the team performed, and we learned a lot about how to win.”
“Our players defended MIU’s pride and colors with high dignity and belief in what we are building here, even after three games in three days,” Coach Sanchez said. “These results sets us up to achieve what seemed impossible at the start of the season to finish with a winning record.”
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Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva is the Sports Editor for MIU News and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.
Doctoral student T.J. Dedeaux-Norris, pursuing a degree in MIU’s EdD program in Education in Transformational Leadership and Coaching, was recently awarded the Rome Prize, one of the world’s most distinguished fellowship programs.
Established in 1921, the Rome Prize is granted by the American Academy in Rome, in Rome, Italy, a leading American overseas center for independent studies and advanced research in the fine arts and humanities. Each year the academy selects about thirty innovative American artists, writers, and scholars to study there.
This year there were 990 applicants for the 35 total prizes awarded.
Dedeaux-Norris began the fellowship in September and will be in Rome through next June. The formal title of the fellowship Dedeaux-Norris received is the Jules Guerin | John Armstrong Chaloner Rome Prize Fellow in Visual Arts (2025–2026) at the American Academy in Rome.
This fellowship work will be part of Dedeaux-Norris’s doctoral and dissertation research at MIU.
Dedeaux-Norris is also a tenured associate professor and area head in the University of Iowa’s Department of Painting and Drawing, within the School of Art, Art History, and Design. Dedeaux-Norris came to the University of Iowa after receiving a Master of Fine Arts at Yale University as a Grant Wood Art Fellow in 2016.
What does it feel like to have won this esteemed prize?
It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a community of esteemed artists and scholars from around the world that comes at a critical juncture. It’s a chance to step outside the sociopolitical climate of the United States — and the Midwest in particular — and reflect more deeply on my role as an artistic citizen.
What has it been like to live in Rome on this fellowship these past few months so far?
It’s truly been an incredible experience living and working in Rome. Every day at the American Academy feels like stepping into a conversation between art, history, and spirit. I’m profoundly grateful for this opportunity.
Tell us more about your project.
My project here, An Emergence in Rome, is both an artistic and educational investigation that directly connects to my doctoral research in the Education in Transformational Leadership and Coaching program at Maharishi International University.
I’m exploring how creative autoethnography and coaching tools can foster authentic leadership and well-being among artists and academics. One of the ways this is manifesting is through a multimedia memoir that has evolved into a podcast, The Emergence Room, where I interview artists, scholars, and thinkers to examine our collective “emergent arcs” of growth and transformation.
My time in Rome has deepened my study of early Christian martyrs like Saints Perpetua and Felicity, who serve as powerful metaphors for conviction, becoming, and self-actualization — central themes in both my art and my research.
What drew you to MIU’s doctoral program in Education in Transformational Leadership and Coaching?
Enrolling in MIU’s program was a response to a personal and professional desire to lead more authentically — integrating my lived experience, artistic practice, and sense of purpose. The program’s Consciousness-Based approach, including Transcendental Meditation and the Science of Creative Intelligence, has profoundly grounded me.
I was particularly drawn to Dr. Mike Zwell, who, like me, is a Yale alumnus. His vision for how transformational leadership can reshape education immediately resonated with me and was a major reason I chose MIU.
“I was particularly drawn to Dr. Mike Zwell, who, like me, is a Yale alumnus. His vision for how transformational leadership can reshape education immediately resonated with me and was a major reason I chose MIU.”
— T.J. Dedeaux-Norris
I’m also deeply grateful to Professor Vicki Alexander Herriott for her mentorship and guidance. In a wonderful synchronicity, I recently discovered that she is the cousin of one of my most influential undergraduate mentors at UCLA — Andrea Fraser, who is also currently a Fellow here at the American Academy in Rome. It feels like an extraordinary blessing to be supported by two brilliant scholars and mentors, each of whom has played such an important role in my academic, artistic, and transformational journey.
I’m continually inspired by my diverse, supportive cohort of fellow students and by our EQ Lab (Emotional Intelligence Lab), where we practice holding space for one another and cultivating authentic presence as leaders.
How has your Transcendental Meditation practice benefited you and your work?
TM has helped me navigate the pressures of competitive academic and artistic environments with greater calm, presence, and clarity. My partner and creative collaborator, Jason Šimánek, who is also currently enrolled in the Low-Residency MFA in Visual Arts program at MIU, and I learned TM together. Sharing this practice has been a meaningful addition to both our creative and spiritual lives, enriching our collaboration and overall sense of balance.
Where do you see things going from here?
Ultimately, my goal is to use the tools and insights gained from this program to design coaching-based, creativity-centered curricula that support artists and educators at all stages of life — helping them cultivate authenticity, resilience, and purpose.
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Banner photograph by Jason Šimánek. American Academy of Rome photo 1, Architectural Digest; photo 2 by CenozoicEra, public domain.
In a thrilling and hard-fought match, the MIU men’s soccer team came away with a 3-3 tie against an experienced William Penn University squad in its final home game of the season at the MIU Unified Field.
Early in the first half, the Pioneers took the lead when Jesse Cano (No. 5, California) scored with an assist from Angel Delgado (No. 16, Arizona). William Penn responded midway through the half with a goal to tie the game and then added another before halftime, taking a 2-1 lead into the break.
In the second half, Nicholas Webster (No. 9, England) brought the crowd to their feet with a spectacular free kick from 30 yards out, leveling the score at 2-2.
Midway through the half, MIU goalkeeper Juan Jose (No. 1, Spain) made a crucial save on a William Penn penalty kick to keep the game tied.
William Penn later regained the lead, making it 3-2, but the Pioneers continued to fight back. After earning a penalty, Nixon Valencia (No. 20, Ecuador) converted to equalize once again.
In the closing moments, William Penn was awarded another penalty, but Juan Jose again came up big for the Pioneers with his second penalty save of the match, preserving the 3-3 draw.
“The team fought extremely well,” said MIU Coach Caio Pereira. “I was very proud of how the team overcame the adversities of having a man down, and I also have to praise Juan Jose’s performance. It was remarkable how he was able to keep us in the game in several occasions and came in clutch with two penalty kick saves to secure our undefeated season at our home field.”
The team travels for a three-day road trip to face Northwestern College (October 9), Morningside University (October 10), and Briar Cliff University (October 11).