Offensive Explosion Propels Men's Soccer to Season Opening Victory

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - Behind three goals and an assist from Antonio Cuellar, the Mount Mercy men's soccer team exploded for eight goals in the season opener, taking down IU-Northwest by a score of 8-0.

The scoring got started early as Ilija Kosoric scored his first of the year off an assist from Chafik Elidrissi just four and a half minutes into the game. Kosoric nearly had his second after bumping the ball past a RedHawk defender, but Kosoric drew a red card from IU-Northwest's Tre Adams as Adams was the last defender to prevent Kosoric from netting his second just a minute and a half later.

In the 22nd minute, the Kosoric-Elidrissi connection struck again, this time with Elidrissi netting the goal off of a Kosoric assist, making the game 2-0 in favor of Mount Mercy, as Kosoric and Elidrissi would each end the day with a goal and assist. In the 42nd minute, Danilo Obradovic took a pass from Antonio Cuellar and put it past the RedHawk keeper to score the third goal of the first half, as the match would head into the break with a three-goal MMU advantage.

Just six and a half minutes into the second half, Martin Fernandez scored his first of the year on a penalty kick, extending the Mustang lead to four. Over the course of the following 30 minutes, Antonio Cuellar would score three straight goals, while Chris Difficile and Lucas Olivera would each add their names to the score sheet with assists. With his seven points (three goals, one assist), Cuellar moves into a tie for eighth place in the school's record book for points in a match, while also moving into a a tie for sixth in goals during a match with his hat trick.

The scoring was capped off with a Pablo Lopez goal coming off an assist from Matteo Anzallo, as MMU would cruise to a season opening win. The team's point total is tied for the fourth-most in program history in a match with 22, and the eight goals mark a tie for sixth in school history.

Working with a lead over the entirety of the contest, the Mustang defense didn't let up, giving goalkeeper Alejandro Cuende an easy day, recording one save and his first clean sheet of the season. The Mustangs would out-shoot the RedHawks 35-2, with both of IU-Northwest's shots coming in the second half. The Mustangs would also hold an 11-2 edge in corner kicks.

The Mustangs will return to Hadzic Field on Wednesday, taking on cross-town foe Coe College at 7 p.m.