Persenico scores twice, Pride get first win of 2023
DUBUQUE, Iowa - Opening their home slate in non-conference with a matchup against Waldorf University, the Clarke University men's soccer team came away with a 4-1 victory for their first win of the season on Sunday night.
The scoring started early as Luke Persenico got his second goal of the season as he won a race to a bouncing ball headed into the box by Jonathan Velasquez, made a nifty touch around the keeper and tapped it into an open net to make it 1-0 Pride.
About 10 minutes later, with CU holding possession near midfield and in their defensive half, Persenico made a run and was fed perfectly by Alejandro Valverde behind the Warriors' back line as this time he was able to finish one-on-one against the keeper to put Clarke up 2-0.
Clarke's first half scoring didn't end there as Persenico found himself on the assisting end of the scoresheet on the third goal of the game as he sent in a corner kick that found the head of center back Nearco Zamorano, who finished far post to add another.
With this two goals and an assist, Persenico gets his second multi-point game of the season after scoring a goal and assisting on another at Viterbo on Aug. 22 and this also marks the ninth time in his career at Clarke that the junior has been on the scoresheet two or more times in a game.
Zamorano's goal wasn't the last time the Pride would put the ball past a goal line in the first half but unfortunately for Clarke, they would slide a ball being played back to goalkeeper Marc Ibanez that was out of his reach enough that it would cross CU's goal line for an own goal to make it 3-1 at the half.
Ibanez was solid otherwise in the net in the first 45 minutes as he made two saves in the first half while giving way to Fernando Contreras in the second half as the junior keeper made one save on the only shot on goal he faced.
That would be the only blemish for Clarke in the game as Velasquez would add a goal on a penalty kick late in the second half to give the birthday boy a goal and an assist on the day as he, Zamorano, and Persenico all had at least one goal and an assist on the day.
Pride men's soccer will be back at home next weekend when they host Judson University on Saturday, Sept. 9 for a 3:00 p.m. CT start time at Burrows Field against the Eagles.