Heart, Hustle, and Hard Lessons in Dallas

The North American University Stallions went into Dallas on Saturday evening to face Paul Quinn College, and what unfolded was truly a tale of grit, fight, and hard lessons learned.

The Tigers of Paul Quinn landed the first punch right before halftime. In the 41st minute, Bienvenie Bisimwa slipped free and finished past Stallions goalkeeper Dennis Nguyen after a clever assist from Charlie Fisher. It was the only blemish in a first half where NAU had already been forced to dig deep, playing down a man after midfielder Alejandro Perez was shown red in just the 9th minute.

But if you know Stallion Soccer, you know this team doesn't quit. In the second half, with their backs against the wall, the boys from NAU clawed back. In the 72nd minute, captain Flynn Faulkner stepped up to the spot and buried a penalty kick with ice-cold composure, leveling the score at 1–1. That equalizer shifted momentum and proved the Stallions could strike back, even shorthanded and on the road.

Stats Tell the Story

The Stallions outshot Paul Quinn 11–10 and matched their intensity in front of goal with 7 shots on target to the Tigers' 9. Keeper Dennis Nguyen was steady between the posts, recording 4 big saves while organizing his backline under constant pressure.

Corners and possession tilted toward Paul Quinn (6–2 in corners), but NAU showed grit in transition, carving out real chances despite being undermanned.

Discipline Overshadows Fight

What will sting most for NAU is not the scoreline, but the discipline. Perez's early red card forced the Stallions to chase the match from the 9th minute onward. Just when they had steadied the ship, defender Andrew Gonzalez was dismissed in the 88th minute, leaving the squad with only nine players to see out the draw.

Paul Quinn picked up two yellow cards of their own, but the difference was clear — NAU can't afford to handicap itself with avoidable mistakes, especially on the road. As any coach will remind them: talent can win games, but discipline wins seasons.

Bright Spots

• Flynn Faulkner (#10): Calm under pressure, buried the PK to secure the draw.

• Dennis Nguyen (#99): A steady wall in net, organizing his defense and keeping NAU alive despite relentless pressure.

• Team Resilience: Down to 10 men — and eventually nine — the Stallions still found the heart to equalize and finish level.

What's Next

The Stallions leave Dallas with a 1–1 draw that feels like both a missed opportunity and a valuable lesson. The fight is there. The talent is clear. But now discipline has to match desire if this team wants to take the next step forward.

Final Score: North American 1 – Paul Quinn 1
Location: Dallas, TX

Get those 4-fingered hooves up and Goooooooo Stallionsssss!!!!

Written by: Rev. Justin C. Jackson
Sports Information Director, NAU