DES MOINES, Iowa – Rocky men's soccer opened its 2026 campaign with a major statement on Friday afternoon, knocking off defending NAIA national champion and preseason No. 1 Grand View University 2-1 in Iowa.
The Battlin' Bears scored both of their goals in the first half and ultimately outshot the Vikings 9-7 overall in the contest.
A pair of freshmen provided the spark for the Battlin' Bears, as Dariyan Demir and Evan Odle both found the back of the net in their regular-season collegiate debuts to build a commanding first-half cushion.
Demir kicked off the scoring in the 24th minute, after Paul Katende set up Demir near the post, where the freshman squeezed a tight-angle strike along the endline into the top corner, putting Rocky ahead 1-0. Odle doubled the advantage just before the halftime break, pouncing on a keeper deflection and finishing from close range.
While the Vikings added a goal in the 66th minute, the Rocky men held their lead through the second half to claim a victory over the preseason No. 1 team in the NAIA.
Biruk Paulos-Negatu started in goal, tallying two saves on the afternoon. On top of his first collegiate goal, Demir totaled a game-high four shots.
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