Warriors Drop Overtime Thriller to Clarke at Home

FREMONT, Neb. – Midland University continued Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) play with a home contest against Clarke University on Saturday. The Warriors built an early lead, but the Pride rallied and scored the golden goal in double overtime to hand Midland a 7-6 loss.

Clarke opened the scoring 3:08 into the game when Xavier Howard found the net off an assist from Reese Rubino, giving the Pride a 1-0 lead. Midland answered nearly 10 minutes later as Kellan Powers assisted Leland Thiel, tying the game at 1-1 with 2:35 remaining in the first quarter. Play was fairly even in the opening frame, as Clarke held a 12-7 advantage in shots.

Midland took control in the second quarter as Cameron Teem scored an unassisted goal 1:06 into the period to give the Warriors their first lead. Powers extended the advantage with 4:16 remaining off an assist from Memphis Dyess, before Dyess added another goal 46 seconds later, assisted by Lawson Kopecky, to make it 4-1. Clarke cut into the deficit late in the half when Jackson Michaels scored with 1:02 remaining, sending Midland into halftime with a 4-2 lead.

Clarke surged in the third quarter. Michaels scored again 1:16 into the half, and Aiden Gudenkauf followed just 1:24 later to tie the game at 4-4. Just over 10 minutes later, Jahvon Anderson gave the Pride a 5-4 lead with 2:14 remaining in the quarter. Clarke converted three of its seven shots on goal in the period, while Midland was held scoreless despite 11 total shots.

Midland responded in the fourth quarter, outshooting Clarke 17-7. Teem tied the game at 5-5 just 2:22 into the period. Later, Asher Thomas scooped up a ground ball in the defensive half and raced nearly the length of the field before bouncing a shot over the goalkeeper's shoulder and into the net to give Midland a 6-5 lead with 5:38 remaining. However, Clarke answered 49 seconds later as Michaels completed his hat trick, tying the game at 6-6 and forcing overtime.

Clarke outshot Midland 4-0 in the first overtime, but neither team scored. In the second overtime, the Pride netted the game-winner just 18 seconds into the period as Theo Deberghes secured the 7-6 victory.

Midland outshot Clarke 44-43, including a 26-13 edge across the second and fourth quarters, but Clarke held a 5-0 advantage in overtime shots. The Warriors committed 27 turnovers compared with Clarke's 37. Sean Erickson recorded 11 saves in 64:18, facing 43 shots with 18 on goal.

Midland (2-4, 0-2 HAAC) returns to action March 28, traveling to Oskaloosa, Iowa, to face William Penn (4-1, 1-0 HAAC). First draw at Statesmen Community Stadium is scheduled for 2 p.m.