MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris men's soccer team hung in with the University of Wisconsin-Superior in the opening stages of the match on Friday at Cougar Field, but a flurry of goals before the half-hour mark were too much to overcome as the Yellowjackets came away with a 4-1 victory.

The early minutes of the match went back and forth with Minnesota Morris producing just as many chances as UW-Superior. However, in the fifth minute, Blake Perry put his laces through a shot from just outside the 18-yard box and gave Lucas Harmon no chance as he put the Yellowjackets in front, 1-0.

The score stayed there until the 25th minute when UW-Superior earned a penalty kick that was put away off the post by Nicolai Stokker. Responding quickly, Minnesota Morris answered back later in the 25th minute as Mayson Palen and Tommy Ellis were in on the build-up that resulted in a first-touch finish from Carter Watkinson to the left corner just past the reach of UW-Superior goalkeeper Alex Paredes to make it 2-1.

The difference in the match was the play of Perry for the visitors. Right on 27 minutes he was played in on goal from a ball over the top of the Minnesota Morris defense and he finished at a tight angle to give the Yellow Jackets a 3-1 lead. Exactly one minute later, the Cougars were whistled for a hand ball in the box and Perry finished his hat trick with a penalty kick in the 28th minute for a 4-1 advantage.

Minnesota Morris defended well from there on out, but couldn't muster much in the way of attack against a solid Yellowjacket defense. The one shot on goal for the Cougars came in the 61st minute, but Watkinson's shot was saved by reserve goalkeeper Payton Anderson.

Harmon made three saves in the match for Minnesota Morris. Watkinson ended the day with four shots (two on goal) and Palen had three (one on goal).

The Cougars will close out the 2021 season tomorrow with Senior Day at Cougar Field against Northland College beginning at 3:30 p.m.