FREMONT, Neb. – The Westminster men's soccer team opened a three game weekend trip by defeating No. 19 Midland (Neb.), 3-1, on Friday afternoon at Heedum Field.
 
Neither team was able to score during the first 45 minutes of action that saw both teams take six shots. Westminster (7-2-1) failed to put any of their first half shots on goal, but scored on their first shot of the second half. Just two minutes after intermission, Jonnathan Rodriguez fired a shot inside the far post that gave the Griffins a 1-0 lead.
 
Midland (2-4) responded less than four minutes later when Dovydas Vaskelis took a pass from Nick Saunders and put his shot past Westminster's Sean Lyne for the equalizer in the 51st minute.
 
The Griffins would retake the advantage in the 69th minute when Ivan Lezama Mendoza was fouled in the penalty area. Mendoza then buried the ensuing penalty kick for the first goal of his career and the eventual game-winner. Westminster would add a second goal from Rodriguez – his third of the year – in the 82nd minute for the final 3-1 margin.
 
Westminster finished the afternoon with a 13-12 edge in total shots and the Griffins put six of those attempts on goal. Midland had a 6-4 edge in corner kicks and each team was whistled for 10 fouls.
 
Lyne earned his second win of the season with a five save performance.
 
Westminster will play game two of the road trip on Saturday when they visit No. 12 Grand View (Iowa) at 6 p.m. MT in Des Moines, Iowa.