Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 Heartland soccer opened play last weekend against a tough slate of opponents, as the men's team split its two games while the women's squad opened up regular season play with a victory.
 
The men's team welcomed NJCAA DI No. 18-ranked Jefferson College to The Corn Crib on Friday afternoon, displaying an impressive performance to begin the season. Following a scoreless first half, Alessandro Redolfi broke the tie with a goal in the 46^th minute on an assist by Oliver Calculli.
 
From there, the Hawks held strong until Mohammad Sanyang found the net in the 81^st minute with Shaquiel Campbell contributing an assist. Campbell would add a goal of his own just moments later in the 84^th minute to give the Hawks a little extra cushion in their 3-0 victory. Goalie Oliver Butler finished the contest with two saves for the Hawks.
 
Heartland's women's team followed the men's team on Friday afternoon at The Corn Crib in a face-off with Lewis & Clark Community College. Similar to the men's game, the contest was scoreless through the first 45 minutes of action before Valentina Bernal scored on a Maria Hernandez assist in the 47^th minute. Hernandez would connect on a goal of her own in the 87^th minute. The Hawks held strong the remainder of the contest in a 2-0 win over the visiting Trailblazers.
 
On Sunday, the men's team returned to The Corn Crib for a matchup against another ranked NJCAA DI squad, this time against No. 16-ranked Illinois Central College. The Cougars were able to get on the board first with a goal by Jesus Perez in the 22^nd minute.
 
Perez would connect on a penalty kick in the 57^th minute to extend the ICC lead to 2-0 before Mario Fairweather broke Heartland's scoreless streak in the 64^th minute on an assist by Sanyang. The Cougars added a score in the 78^th minute to make it 3-1, which held as the final as the Hawks fell to 1-1 on the young season.
 
The Hawks return to The Corn Crib beginning at 5 pm on Wednesday, as the women's team plays host to Western Iowa Tech Community College with the men following shortly after.