New Ulm, MN - Monday evening saw the rescheduled match between Martin Luther College and Crown, that was originally planned for Saturday. The Knights were aggressive and feisty from the beginning, but their intensity got the best of them, as the Polars took advantage of MLC's costly errors and won 4-0.

Crown got on the scoreboard just under the 15 minute mark from an MLC yellow card that resulted in a penalty kick for Joaquin Silva. 

The Polars would benefit from another MLC yellow card in the 27th minute and this time Serni Batalla converted on the penalty kick. Both goals were vital blows to the Knights, as they played solid defense throughout the first period, but the location of both penalties were near the goal, resulting in the high percentage opportunities for Crown.

In the second period, the Knights defense played tough, not allowing easy shots for Crown, but once were handed a pair of yellow cards. The score remained 2-0 until the 85th minute, when Santiago Ciro hit a header into the back of the net, making it 3-0. The Polars then capitalized on a deflated MLC morale and connected on their fourth goal near the 87th minute.

The match got out of hand for MLC especially in the final 15 minutes, when the Knights were issued two red cards and a yellow card. For the game, both teams had a total of eight yellow cards and 21 fouls committed, making it the chippiest contest the men's team has played in quite awhile.

With the loss, MLC moves to 2-7 in the 2023 season and will look to eliminate those crucial penalties in order to put themselves in better shape. Despite giving up four goals, Zachary Pausma gave a hard working performance at goalkeeper and had 15 saves. MLC will look for him and their senior leadership in their next match at Northwestern on Wednesday, September 27. The match will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be the second of four matches this week for the men.