Storm thunder back in dramatic 4-3 victory over Knox in their home opener

INDIANOLA, Iowa - There was no shortage of drama in the Storm's home opener. Simpson trailed 3-1 in the second half to Knox when two goals from Ronaldo Ordaz tied the match, before Zach Kline connected for his first game-winning goal of his career to lift the Storm to a 4-3 victory on Saturday.

A goal from Mitchell Dickson in the ninth minute gave Simpson (4-2-0) the early lead until Knox (2-3-1) equalized and took the lead with back-to-back goals in the 24th and 25th minutes. The Prairie Fire stretched their lead to two goals in the 52nd minute on a penalty kick.

The Storm turned to their leading goal scorer to jumpstart the offense, and Ordaz did not disappoint. Connecting for his third goal of the season, Ordaz cut the lead in half in the 61st minute. Then again, in the 78th minute, Ordaz struck again, equalizing the match with his team-leading fourth goal of the season.

However, Simpson was not finished yet, looking for a historic 13th straight home opener victory, and Kline delivered the moment. The sophomore scored in the 83rd minute to secure the 4-3 dramatic victory.

GOAL SUMMARY

• On a corner kick from Kline in the ninth minute that went past multiple Knox defenders, Dickson struck home the goal to the back right corner from just two yards out from the keeper.
• Knox's Arito Nakamichi struck from 25 yards, curving the ball to the lower left corner of the net in the 24th minute.
• Simpson was unable to clear the ball from the right side of the box in the 25th minute, leading to Knox's second goal.
• A penalty on the far left side of the box led to a Knox PK attempt, and the Prairie Fire landed their third goal of the match on a strike to the bottom left corner.
• Knox attempted to clear the ball but headed right to Espoire Nkomezi, who headed the ball right back into the box, finding Ordaz who connected five yards out in the 61st minute.
• A deep volley from the midfield found Ordaz once again, who collected the pass, transferred the ball to his right foot, and struck from 20 yards out to the bottom left corner to tie the match in the 78th minute.
• Sedlock found a streaking Kline down the near sideline, who took one touch before crossing the ball back to the far post for the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute.

TOP PERFORMANCES

• Ordaz: two goals, six shots, three on-goal
• Kline: one game-winning goal, one assist
• Dickson: one goal, four shots, two on-goal
• Sedlock: one assist, three shots on-goal

NOTABLES

• The Storm have won 13th consecutive home openers, dating back to 2012.
• The four goals for Simpson marks a season-high, and the most since Oct. 12 at Loras where the Storm scored five goals.
• Simpson outshot Knox in the second half to a tune of 11-to-4.
• The Storm attempted 14 corner kicks, the most since Oct. 22 against Dubuque in 2022.
• Simpson shared the wealth, collecting five assists, the most since Sept. 24 against Coe in 2022.

UP NEXT

Simpson continues their homestand with a match next Sunday, Sept. 22 against Carleton at 7:00 p.m..