Pride pitch clean sheet in 2-0 win over Graceland

DUBUQUE, Iowa - A 2-0 result that may have felt like it could have been more but it's still a second-straight victory for the Clarke University men's soccer team over Graceland University on a frigid Tuesday night at Burrows Field.

The Pride scored both of their goals in the first half as Luke Persenico scored his team-leading sixth goal of the season in the 31st minute to make it one to nothing followed about five minute later by Jonathan Velazsquez scoring his second goal of the season in the 36th minute on an assist by Bakari Mtende.

Clarke took that 2-0 lead into halftime but the message from head coach Mike Paye and his coaching staff was one of missed opportunities as they felt the game could have been more at hand given that CU had outshot Graceland 11-4 in the opening frame.

The second half was more missed opportunities for the Pride while Graceland upped their pressure as shots finished in the second half 15-10 in favor of Clarke but Yellowjacket goalkeeper Miguel Roces made five saves in the second half to keep it at that two-goal lead.

CU keeper Fernando Contreras was only tasked to make four saves on his way to his second individual shutout of the season and third overall as his record went to 4-1-2 on the season.

Pride men's soccer will look to continue their current strong play coming off of now back-to-back wins heading into Homecoming Saturday when they host MidAmerica Nazarene for a scheduled 7:30 p.m. CT kickoff or shortly after the completion of the women's soccer game at 5:30 p.m. CT.