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.”

* * * * * * *

Maria Eduarda Rodrigues da Silva is the Sports Editor for MIU News and the Sports Information and Creative Director for the MIU Athletics Department.