Goshen, IN — It is unfortunate that in soccer there are no style points for goals scored.

If there were, Saturday evening’s 2005 season-opening tilt against Malone College would have been a landslide victory for the Leafs.

Instead, however, Malone’s blooped header that somehow found the back of the Goshen net was worth just as much as an incredible, 30-yard, left-footed blast from freshman Raad Qumsieh that raced past Pioneer goalkeeper Mike Porter. Those two very different goals would be all the scoring in 90 minutes of regulation soccer and two overtimes — the NAIA does not go to penalty kick shootouts in non-tournament matches — leaving an overflowing crowd yearning for more on a gorgeous autumn-like evening at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.

“I was not sure what to expect out of our side in our home opener and first match of the 2005 season,” said Tavi Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Malone College (a member of the American Mid-East Conference) is in one of the toughest conferences in the country for soccer. They have a lot of good individual players with skills and speed, and they play very hard. I knew it would be tough for us to get going, and Malone had a lot to do with that.”

The atmosphere at the game’s outset was a direct reflection of the anticipation coming with this season of Goshen College soccer — the Leafs finished the 2004 year with a 14-4-4 overall record and a Mid-Central Conference Championship match berth — and there were perhaps some first-match jitters on both sides. Neither team could get much going in the first 45 minutes of play, as Goshen (0-0-1, 0-0) started to gain greater possession toward the latter part of the first period. Malone’s quick forwards tested the vaunted Goshen defense at times, but neither team got multiple, quality looks at the opposing goal in the first half.

“Malone did a good job of keeping us in check in the first half,” Mounsithiraj said. “I thought our defense did a good job of giving them little chance (at scoring opportunities). At halftime we talked about being more patient with the ball. We had a tendency to just knock the ball forward in the first half, almost like we were anxious. We needed to get back to moving the ball around and picking our spots.”

While that plan eventually led to a Leafs’ score later in the second half, it may have first backfired on Mounsithiraj. With Goshen swinging the ball from right to left in the backfield just five minutes into the period, a Malone forward was able to put up a floating header in the direction of the Leafs’ goal. In an apparent communication breakdown, Goshen junior keeper Craig Welscott and two other defenders watched the ball sail effortlessly over their heads. A stunned student-body crowd could not believe the result: Malone had scored a trickling goal, taking a 1-0 lead in the process.

“I still do not know how that ball slipped through, but it did,” Mounsithiraj said. “I kept encouraging the guys. We were playing well and we had plenty of time left to get back in the game. We couldn’t let that mistake completely deflate us.”

Deflate it did not, as sophomore midfielder Tony Janzen began to go to work. The Leafs were able to find a streaking Janzen down the middle of the field for several opportunities, with one rocketed shot on goal stopped by the Pioneers’ Porter in remarkable fashion.

“I thought for sure that when Tony was one on one with the keeper that it would be over,” Mounsithiraj said. “But not today. Malone’s goalkeeper came up big and denied several big shots.”

One shot Porter could not deny came in the 70th minute, as the Palestinian-transfer Qumsieh found himself maneuvering around Malone defenders about 30 yards from the goal. Abruptly, Qumsieh wheeled and lined a left-footed shot that got no higher than three inches off the ground at any point. Like a low-flying rocket, Qumsieh’s shot lanced it’s way through Malone defenders and past an outstretched Porter, tying the game at 1-1 and sending the student-body crowd into a frenzy. Qumsieh promptly obliged the fans, racing to the main bleacher section and taking a bow for the Leafs’ faithful.

Re-energized by Qumsieh’s incredible equalizer, the Goshen squad began its push for a game-winner. Perhaps the Leafs’ best chance to win the game lied with the head referee’s whistle: In the first overtime session, it twice appeared that Janzen was taken down from behind inside the box while dribbling toward the goal after receiving a through ball. In neither instance a foul was called.

Even without the benefit of a call from the official, Goshen clearly dominated possession late in the match. Porter came up with several more big saves, while junior Jared Price launched a blast from about the same spot as Qumsieh’s goal that sailed just over the crossbar in the second overtime period.

“Overall I thought we played well for a first match and a 1-1 draw is a good result,” Mounsithiraj said. “I was pleased with our first-year players that got in the match such as (freshman midfielder) David Shenk and (freshman forward) Cody Felton. Our returning players did a good job of keeping things organized. (Junior defender) Joel Miller and (sophomore midfielder) Matt Yoder had a good match for us. Tony Janzen was tough with the ball up front and kept the Malone defense busy all night. It was a great night for soccer with great support from our student body, fans and parents. The place was packed and the atmosphere was simply awesome. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us with Siena coming to town on Tuesday. We’ll try to stick with it in hopes of getting our first win.”

Mounsithiraj will not have an extended amount of time to prepare for the Saints. Siena Heights University will visit the Goshen College Soccer Complex this Tuesday night. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.