The MIU men’s soccer team delivered an exciting performance at home on Wednesday afternoon, September 17, defeating Central College 5-2 at the MIU Unified Field.

More than 80 fans, including MIU faculty, staff, and members of the Fairfield community, were in attendance to cheer on the Pioneers.

The scoring opened with MIU’s Nixon Valencia (No. 20, Ecuador), followed by Jesse Cano (No. 5, California) with another, giving the Pioneers a 2–0 lead going into halftime.

After the break, Central came back to level the score at 2–2, briefly shifting the momentum.

But MIU responded quickly. Bryan Eyiuche (No. 10, England) put the Pioneers back in front. Nicholas Webster (No. 9, England) sealed the victory with two consecutive goals, bringing the final score to 5–2.

With the win, MIU continues to build momentum heading into its next matchup on the road against Grand View University on September 21 at 7:30 pm. The Pioneers return home on September 25 at 5:00 pm.

“The guys worked really hard,” said Assistant Head Coach Caio Pereira. “I am very proud of how much they’ve grown in such a short period. I believe we relaxed too much during the game which gave Central the to tie.

“But Bryan and Alvaro along other players were able to lift our intensity up again and fight back for the win, Caio said. “Very happy with the result and the team growth. There’s still a lot to improve, but I trust that we’ll be able to handle the competition.”

“After a series of games building momentum this season, the Pioneer soccer team — led by captain and goalkeeper Juanjo, our first recruited player, and Bryan — finally clicked,” said Head Coach Ruben Sanchez. “Yesterday the players fully aligned their individual identity with the team identity as true Pioneers, enjoying, learning, and growing within the game. A strong start, followed by a terrific showcase of commitment and love for the sport, translated into three beautiful goals and secured our program’s first win against a prestigious Iowa opponent, Central College.”

With their first home performance behind them, the Pioneers continue to build on their season and prepare for the challenges ahead.

MIU ties Southeast Iowa Community College in the season’s first game

The Pioneers home opener, two weeks earlier on September 7, turned into a true event for the Fairfield community, drawing over 100 fans, including MIU students, faculty, and staff, to support the Pioneers.

It was a highly competitive match.

Southeastern struck first to take the lead, but MIU responded with determination. After a sharp assist from Angel Delgado (No. 16, Arizona), Jesse Cano (No. 5, California) delivered the equalizer to secure a hard-fought 1-1 draw.

The match was intense and physical, with each team receiving a red card.

Click here to see drone footage from MIU’s first soccer match of the season, on September 7, against Southeast Iowa Community College, which ended in a 1–1 tie.