Soccer results: Sept. 4
Southeastern Women 3, Grace College 2
Grace’s women’s soccer team nearly completed the upset of No. 6 Southeastern on Saturday.
In the highly anticipated Top-25 showdown, No. 14 Grace led by two goals in the second half. But the Fire showcased their offensive prowess, coming from behind to win 3-2 at 1st Source Bank Field.
Madison Tuma had both goals for Grace on a wet, drizzly evening. The playing surface was slick, allowing for balls to be passed around with great speed.
The first half was a battle of possession. Both sides had turns moving the ball cleanly, but offensive chances were scattered between the two highly ranked squads.
Grace stunned the No. 6-ranked Fire with an early goal. Alexis Larimore beat a defender in a dangerous position and moved the ball in front of goal to Madison Tuma, who passed the ball into the empty net in the fourth minute.
Southeastern’s attempts in the first half were almost entirely beyond the 18-yard box, not troubling goalkeeper Bethany Blackwood.
Grace nearly doubled its lead just before halftime, but Danae Moriarty’s one-on-one shot with Southeastern’s goalkeeper whisked just wide of the right goalpost.
Grace claimed a 1-0 lead into halftime as the Fire held a slight 5-4 edge in shots.
It didn’t take Grace long to find its second goal after halftime, however. The combination of Larimore and Tuma created the goal again, only eight minutes into the second half.
Larimore stole a pass and quickly advanced toward the Fire’s goal. She passed to Tuma, who calmly curled her shot beyond the goalkeeper to grab a 2-0 lead.
That 2-0 lead would not last, however. The Fire responded almost immediately, cutting Grace’s margin to one with a goal three minutes later.
With 21 minutes left in regulation, Southeastern capitalized on a defensive miscue by Grace, rapidly scoring the equalizing goal to set up a nervy ending.
Southeastern received a free kick deep in Grace’s end of the field with seven minutes on the clock. The Fire converted on a cross and a one-time volley for the eventual game winner.
Grace’s best chance down the stretch came as no surprise from Tuma. The junior forward and a Fire defender collided on a breakaway while heading toward the Fire’s goal; the official deemed Tuma to be in the wrong, nullifying a potential 19-yard free kick with less than a minute on the clock.
The Lady Lancers were unable to generate another shot and were forced to suffer the 3-2 defeat.
Tuma and Larimore each had two shots on goal, and Moriarty also had two shots.
The Lady Lancers hit the road for their next three games, beginning at Indiana Tech on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Grace’s next home match is Sept. 18 against No. 12 Columbia.
Wawasee Boys 3, LaPorte 2
Wawasee Boys 3, Logansport 0
The boys in green and gold brought home two non-conference wins on Saturday. In the first match against LaPorte, Mason Possell found net twice with Reuben Camargo tallying the third goal. Isaac Hodges, Braxton Mickem and Parker Lenfestey each was credited with an assist.
In the second game, Sylvester Trujillo stopped eight shots to earn the clean sheet for the Warriors. Freshman Dane Sigler scored twice for Wawasee with Quinten Taylor adding the third. Lenfesty, Possell and Camargo each earned an assist.
“Great team display by the boys,” said Warrior coach Jordan Sharp. “Everyone stepped up and played their part. Many standout performances.”
The Warriors return to NLC play on Tuesday when they travel to NorthWood.
Central Noble Girls 2, Lakeland Christian Academy 0
In a battle of Cougars, Central Noble hosted Lakeland Christian in Albion on Saturday.
According to LCA coach Nat Raber, there was mostly even play in the midfield between to the two teams. Central Noble had a slight advantage and took more shots scoring off a counter due to a LCA defensive breakdown. LCA was able to generate some pressure and Jesi Calizo had a shot hit off the bottom of the crossbar and stay out.
The half would end 1-0 win the hosts in the lead. The second half was played very similar to the first. Central Noble was the aggressor generating more chances and were able to get another goal in the first 15 mins of the half. LCA started to get more and more pressure but the shots were off target.
“We didn’t have the possession that I would like to have seen,” noted Raber. “I was pleased with some of the things we talked about showing up on the field. We are still a work in progress but we are getting better.”
LCA is now 1-3 on the season and will host Jimtown on Tuesday, Sept. 7.
Lakeland Christian Academy Boys 2, New Prairie 0
In another battle of Cougars, this time of the male variety, LCA outshot their guests from New Prairie 9-8 en route to a 2-0 win.
The hosts got two unassisted goals from Andrew Bosch in the 15th minute and Yohannes Schmitt in the 66th minute. Keeper Peter Koller earned the shutout between the pipes.
“We played a very organized and mature game,” said LCA coach Dan Miller. “New Prairie had a lot of the ball in possession, but we were able to keep our shape and counter attack well. Sophomore Andrew Bosch was very composed on his goal, and Freshman Yohannes Schmitt was relentless in his pressure to win the ball and finish the second goal. I’m proud of the guys effort, and interested to see how this game grows our confidence ahead of next week’s full slate of games.”
Next up for LCA is a road contest with Blackhawk Christian on Tuesday.
Warsaw Boys 3, Homestead 1
Warsaw Boys 3, Northridge 0
The Tigers took home the championship at the Carroll Classic in Fort Wayne. In the first game, Warsaw’s Roberto Sanchez, Javier Enciso, and Alexis Vargas each found paydirt.
In the championship match, Warsaw faced off with NLC rival Northridge in a match that did not count toward the conference standings. The Tigers shutout the Raiders, however no stats were provded from the match.
Goshen Girls 5, Wawasee 1
The Warriors dropped a Saturday evening tilt against NLC rival Goshen. No Wawasee stats were provided from the match.
Goshen also won the JV match 4-0.
MidAmerica Nazerene Men 2, Grace College 0
Grace College’s men’s soccer team went toe to toe with No. 17 MidAmerica Nazarene but fell by a final score of 2-0. Matteo Conci got his fifth start of the season and made four saves for the Lancers (2-3).
The Lancers nearly broke through early in the matchup. Daniel Santos Rosa received a pass deep in the Pioneers’ (2-1) defensive end and dribbled past two defenders. His shot on goal forced the flailing Pioneer keeper to make a save.
MNU struck just minutes later following a chaotic sequence in the Lancers’ box, allowing the Pioneers to cross the ball for an easy tap-in goal.
The Pioneers capitalized on the momentum and doubled their lead seven minutes later. A misplayed ball in Grace’s defensive end allowed the Pioneers a clean run at Grace’s goal, and a hard-hit ball snuck past Conci to give MNU the 2-0 lead.
The Lancers appeared to have cut into the deficit with 10 minutes left in the first half. Santos Rosa got behind the defense and blasted the ball into the back of the net, but the play was blown dead as Grace was whistled offside.
The Lancers had a pair of chances as the half came to a close, but the Pioneers’ defense held firm. Despite the score, Grace was even with MNU with each team attempting two shots.
The Lancers came out with intensity in the second half and racked up 12 shots in the half. Grace’s best chance of the half came when Tyler Brueckman put a pair of shots on goal. The Pioneers’ keeper was up to the task, however, blocking the first shot and subsequent attack.
As the game entered the waning minutes, it became a sluggish affair with little room for Grace on the attack. Felipe Gruber and David Koch each had chances late but were unable to break up the shutout as Grace fell 2-0.
The Lancers finished with 14 shots, eight of which were on goal. Brueckman led Grace with three shots.
The Lancers will return to action on Monday at 1 p.m. as they travel to defending NAIA champions and No. 1-ranked Missouri Valley.