Pride comeback falls short in 2-1 loss to Mount Mercy

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Playing their first game since entering the NAIA Coaches' Poll for the first time in 2024 and for the first time since 2022, the Clarke University men's soccer team dropped their first game in six matchup in a 2-1 home loss to Mount Mercy University at Burrows Field.

The Pride didn't allow many shots on goal but MMU capitalized on their opportunities to its near fullest, first grabbing a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute after CU keeper Keegan Brennan came off of his line aggressively in an attempt to grab a loose ball before a Mustangs attacking player got to it but dove and fouled Chafik Elidrissi to give Mount Mercy a penalty kick.

Martin Fernandez would be the Mustang player to step to the spot as he would fire the ball basically down the middle as Brennan dove to his right to make it 1-0 Mount Mercy, a lead that would carry on to the halftime break.

After outshooting MMU 11-1 in that first half, it was a more balanced second half with shots at 6-6 but Mount Mercy goalie Alejandro Cuende was able to make six saves on the seven shots on goal to first protect the 1-0 lead then eventually the 2-0 and 2-1 lead.

That 2-0 lead was gained in the 52nd minute as Elidrissi found the back of the net this time on a nice left-footed volley off of a cross from Keita Karasawa, beating Philipp Kohle, who came in to play goalkeeper for the Pride after Brennan suffered an injury.

Upping their offensive pressure, Clarke would finally break through on a Kenshin Yasujima header goal off of a Joshua Reddy cross for the assist for Yasujima's third goal of the year and Reddy's second assist but that would be all CU could get for the remaining 14 minutes of the game to fall short of a comeback effort.

Pride men's soccer will play their final home game of the 2024 regular season on Saturday afternoon at Burrows Field when they host Central Methodist University for a 3:30 p.m. CT scheduled kick but Clarke will celebrate Senior Day prior to kickoff.