Group effort leads UHSP to stirring comeback win over Mount Mercy

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – A furious second half rally propelled the Eutectics to a wild 9-8 come-from-behind win over Mount Mercy on Saturday morning. It was just the second-ever meeting between the new Heart Conference rivals and quite a different result than last year's 20-1 rout by the Mustangs. Ella Penke recorded a hat trick to continue her recent tear and four other Eutectics scored goals in the win.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

UHSP 9, MOUNT MERCY 8

• Just over midway through the first period, Molly Biermann opened the scoring with a goal off a free position shot. It was the lone conversion off a FPS by the Eutectics in three tries.
• The Mustangs scored three of the next four goals including a pair by Brooke Caffrey. Penke scored the lone Eutectic goal in that run coming at 4:30 of the first to put UHSP ahead 2-1.
• Penke would score again to open the second with a goal 1:24 into re-knot things at 3-3.
• Flora Jimenez scored :23 seconds after Penke's second to give MMU a 4-3 lead. Michelle Le would again pull the Eutectics even at 4-4 scoring at 8:23.
• Caffrey added two more in the span of 1:49 to close the first half scoring with Mount Mercy leading 6-4.
• The third quarter was all UHSP as they scored four goals on nine shots. Biermann scored her second of the game and tenth of the year, Penke capped her hat trick with her club-leading 17^th of the season, Melanie Doub scored her first of the year and Caeley Doran tallied her seventh of the season as UHSP claimed an 8-6 lead heading to the fourth.
• Le got her second of the game and ninth of the year to cap a five-goal run by the Eutectics, scoring 4:21 into the fourth.
• Claire Ellsworth scored the final two goals for Mount Mercy.
• UHSP dominated control in the second half aiding in the comeback effort. The Eutectics won the draw control battle 13-6 including 7-1 in the second half.
• Brianna Dixon was between the pipes for UHSP and made four saves facing a dozen shots.
• Scarlett Belle Martinez was in net for the Mustangs suffering the loss. She made 11 saves on 20 shots.
• The game featured eight green cards and no yellow or red cards. There were only a combined 11 fouls in the game.
• Penke has recorded hat tricks in back-to-back games. She has a three-game goal scoring streak and has scored in six of the last seven UHSP contests. In that span she has scored 14 goals on 19 shots on goal.

UP NEXT:

The Eutectics (4-6, 1-3 HEART) play two home games in the coming week to finish out the home portion of their 2025 slate. Missouri Baptist (8-4, 3-0) will have a shorter trip as the "road" team in Monday's contest against UHSP for a 3:00p start at the Lou Fusz Athletic Complex in Creve Coeur. Then Midland visits the Eutectics on Thursday at 3:00p.