Yellowjackets hand Mustangs road defeat

LAMONI, Iowa -- Mount Mercy struck first but Graceland responded in a big way to hand the Mustangs a 9-1 defeat in a Heart of America Athletic Conference women's soccer match on Tuesday at Rasmussen Field.

The Mustangs (1-10-0, 0-10-0 Heart) got off to a good start as Shelby Vermeulen's second goal of the season gave them a 1-0 lead in the second minute of action. The Yellowjackets (2-10-2, 2-8-2 Heart) answered with five goals in the first half and four more in the second. Sarah Johnson stopped 14 shots by Graceland in the loss.

Mount Mercy has two matches left this fall, beginning with a road contest at MidAmerica Nazarene on Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in Olathe, Kan. The Mustangs wrap things up on Wednesday, Nov. 18, when they host Benedictine at 3:00 p.m. at Hadzic Field in Cedar Rapids.