Pioneers overcome 3-goal deficit for win

After two easy wins, the UW-Platteville men's soccer team had to put some extra work on Labor Day, beating 4-3 North Central (Ill.) in a two overtime thriller at Ralph E. Davis Pioneer Stadium.

Never trailing all season, the Pioneers found themselves playing from behind in the first half from three North Central goals.

Not panicking and regrouping at half, the Pioneers were able answer the bell and  score three goals of their own in the second half.

Sophomore forward Logan Rinderknecht continued to be a force for Pioneers offense, scoring his fourth goal of the year, off a header. Junior midfielder Lucas Aplin was awarded with an assist. Aplin was then able to score a goal for himself, knocking one in off a corner kick from Sophomore Midfielder Brad Strobel (

The Pioneers continued to execute off corner kicks. Senior Will Pretto was able to force the game into overtime with a header from Aplin.

In the first overtime, neither team's defense allowed a goal.

The second overtime was a thriller. Pretto came up in the clutch and headed in the eventual game winner. Junior Josh Munoz was given the assist.

Nate Miller came in at goal keeper at halftime and proved to be lights out the rest of the game. He did not allow a goal in the final 45 minutes, allowing the Pioneers to come back and tie the score. He added two key saves in the overtime period. 

The win kept the Pioneers undefeated, moving them 3-0 on the season. The Pioneers have scored 10 goals in the past 3 games.

UW-Platteville will have four days off before heading to Concordia (Wis.) to continue its 2016 campaign. Saturday's game starts at 1 p.m.

By Parker Debroux, UW-Platteville Communications, 608.342.1194, pr@uwplatt.edu