#17 Broncos Deal Lancers Lop Sided Defeat

BY SCOTT MORRISON

The Hastings College mens’ soccer team was able to score early and often on their way to defeating the Mount Marty Lancers 8-2 at Lewis and Clark Soccer Complex Saturday afternoon.

The Broncos (9-2-1, 7-1), who were rated number 17 in NAIA Mens’ Soccer and number one in Region III, were not shy in displaying their scoring abilities.

They were able to score seven of their eight goals in the first half. They scored their first three goals in the first 12 minutes of the match.

This started as junior forward Brian Steinert was able to knock in a picturesque crossing pass by Joel Pedroza.

Matt Quinlan, a senior from Omaha, Neb, gave the Broncos a 2-0 lead after he was able to head the ball past Lancer goal keep Chris Sullivan.

“Our guys came out with a lot of fire, ready to pick up a conference win,” Hastings coach Chris Kranjc said.

Pedroza added his second point of the game after he was on the receiving end of a crossing pass that he buried in the bottom left hand corner off the Lancer net.

Nedim Hasanbegovic, a junior forward from Sarajevo, Bosnia, scored the first of two goals to give the Broncos a 4-0 lead.

Freshman Chris Marquiss scored the next two Hastings goals to make the score 6-0.

Marquiss’s first goal came of a header after senior defender Mark Knust gave him a pass just in front of the Lancer box. His second goal was unassisted.

Garret Reynek added the next Bronco goal just before the end of the first half to give them a 7-0 lead at half-time.

“We were able to finish our opportunities early. This helped us to play well throughout a majority of the contest,” Kranjc added.

After a more than discouraging first half, the Lancers (2-10-1, 0-8) were able to produce a solid second half by scoring two goals and only allowing one.

“We came out a little scared against a prestigious program, but we were able to do much better after we settled down,” Lancer coach Dan Hendricks said.

Sophomore midfielder Josh Christiansen scored both Lancer goals in the half.

The first goal came off a rocket shot just outside the Hastings box. Christiansen was able to make a move and find a window to sneak the ball into the bottom corner of the net.

He was able to head his second goal in net after jumping up to get a crossing pass from the left corner of the field.

Christiansen, who had never played soccer until the beginning of this season, is making an impact on a shorthanded Lancer team. He has three goals on the year.

“We played well in the second half. We were able to outscore Hastings in the half and that helped to give us a little confidence.”

The Broncos were able to tally the final goal of the game when Hasanbegovic was able to move the ball past the Lancers defense and beat Sullivan to make the score 8-2.

The Broncos will host Nebraska Wesleyan University on Wednesday, October 17 at 7:30. The Lancers will travel to Sioux Falls to play against the University of Sioux Falls on Tuesday, October 16 at 4:00 pm.