Once again, MNUFC2 couldn’t settle their score within the first ninety minutes, but made sure to find the net when they needed to, winning another game via shootout 5-4 over the Western Conference front-runners, Houston Dynamo 2, at Allianz Field this past Saturday.

Loons midfielder Aziel Jackson made his presence felt throughout the contest, assisting on a number of attempts on goal. After Houston defender Jon-Talen Maples put a header past Loons keeper Fred Emmings in the 54th minute of the second half, Jackson decided to return the favor. Not long after Maples' goal, in the 61st minute, MNUFC2 defender Nicholas Mendonca lofted a pass down the sideline for Jackson, who split the two Houston defenders running in stride with him, and used his fancy footwork to get to the center of the box for a left-footed boot to the bottom right corner of the net to draw even with Houston.

After the full ninety minutes were up, it was up to the goalkeeper Emmings and his stable of sharpshooting teammates to come up big. Each team went goal-for-goal and drew even with four goals a piece. On the fifth and final attempt, Emmings was able to save Houston’s Paulo Lima’s left-footed boot to the bottom right corner of the goal. Enter MNUFC2 defender Jason Ramos, who was able to convert the pivotal, game-deciding penalty kick to secure the victory for MNUFC2. 

Next up on the docket for MNUFC2 is Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on May 21, at 5 p.m. CT at Swangard Stadium, where they will look to extend their winning streak to six in a row.