Goshen, IN — If there are any better ideas on how to decide a winner in tied-up intercollegiate men’s soccer matches, Goshen head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj would love to hear them.

The novelty of the penalty kick thing has more than worn off.

After guiding his team to its first Mid-Central Conference Co-Championship in 15 years and dropping just a single match all season long, Mounsithiraj sat and watched it all dissipate behind a penalty kick shootout with Marian College Wednesday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. After 90 minutes and two overtimes yielded a scoreless tie between the third-seeded Knights and Mounsithiraj’s second-seeded Goshen squad in the MCC Semi Finals, players lined up to take free shots at a defended goal.

For Mounsithiraj, it looked all too familiar.

Goshen’s 2004 season concluded in a penalty kick shootout with Madonna University following an NAIA Region VIII match that ended in a 1-1 tie, with Goshen dropping a 4-5 PK decision to finish the year 14-4-4. Now, with the scoreboard showing 0-0 following Wednesday night’s match, Mounsithiraj buckled in again.

Freshman Cody Felton scored his PK.

Marian’s first player did the same.

Freshman Raad Qumsieh’s shot to the lower left corner was stopped by Marian keeper Gary Yohe.

Marian scored again.

Junior Joel Miller converted his try, but senior James Graber had his shot deflected after Marian scored its third attempt.

And that was it.

Marian connected on its fourth attempt, making either team’s fifth player to shoot — in Goshen's case sophomore Tony Janzen — a moot point.

For the second consecutive year, Goshen saw its season end with this surreal parade of players taking direct kicks — this time in a 2-4 PK decision — a highlight for any soccer fan but a nightmare for the losing coach.

With so much at stake — Goshen lost out on what would have been its second straight trip to NAIA regional competition with the loss — there may be no more pressure-filled situation in all of sport.

Ever the traditionalist, Mounsithiraj was remarkably steadfast following the emotional ending to his team’s magical season. Perhaps an unjust solution for the diehard Leafs’ fans in attendance, Wednesday night’s conclusion was all just part of the game for the 2005 MCC Coach of the Year (see related article here).

“I thought that we played well enough tonight to advance, but it was not to be,” Mounsithiraj said. “I was very pleased with the way our side responded. We seemed ready for the challenge. We knew coming in that Marian would be a tough one. We had our chances. We got good effort from everyone on our team. It just wasn’t supposed to be.”

It appeared early in the match that Goshen (14-1-3, 6-1-1) would erase the scoreless tie in an emphatic manner, as Felton began to go to work midway through the first half. The undersized speedster beat two Marian defenders on the baseline and rocketed a shot off the cross bar that never crossed the goal line, yielding a collective sigh from the raucous student-body crowd for what might have been.

“Marian is a good side, with individuals up front that can make things happen,” Mounsithiraj said. “They have good speed all over the field. I thought the first half was played evenly between both sides. Both teams had several chances but just could not capitalize.”

Such was the case in the second half, where Goshen continued to push for possession but could not capitalize offensively. As time began to wind down toward zeroes on the scoreboard, Mounsithiraj knew that overtime was imminent.

“In the second half we made some adjustments to try to keep the ball on the ground a little more and find some open space for an attack,” Mounsithiraj said. “I thought we did a great job, and I thought that we would score several different times but the Marian keeper made some great saves or we just missed by inches.”

The latter was the case in the first overtime period, when Felton again put on a deft move only to be denied by the crossbar. After lifting the ball over a defender, Felton shifted past another and lofted the ball in the air just out of Yohe’s reach. Unfortuantely, the would be game-winner was an inch too high, caroming off the crossbar much like in the first half.

“In both overtimes I thought we were the better side, having many opportunities to win the match but Marian was ready for everything that we threw at them,” Mounsithiraj said. “I was disappointed with the outcome of the match but I have to give credit to the Marian side for coming in here and doing whatever it takes to advance.”

Whatever it took for Marian was playing a blatant defensive scheme late, placing nearly every player in the backfield to thwart any Goshen pushes. The Knights’ respect of 2004 and 2005 MCC Defensive Player of the Year Miller was evident, as Marian would attempt counterattacks only when Miller pushed up the field. Goshen recorded its ninth shutout of the season in the PK loss.

“If someone would have told me that we were only going to lose one match back in August, I would have told them they were crazy,” Mounsithiraj said. “Our goal for this season was to win the conference, and we did. Not outright, but it is still a conference title. It’s something we haven’t had here for 15 years, and I’m so proud of what we accomplished as a team and how hard these men have worked.”

Wednesday’s match marked the final time in uniform for seniors James Graber and Nick Loewen, players that Mounsithiraj said have embodied the spirit of Goshen College soccer as well as anyone. Graber was named first team All-MCC in both seasons as a Leaf — he transferred from Manchester College following his sophomore year — while Loewen started the last two seasons and was named an NAIA All-American Scholar-Athlete.

“We will certainly miss James and Nick,” Mounsithiraj said. “They have been a big part of what we’ve been able to do. We’ve got 281 days until we report for training camp in August (of 2006). I think we are heading in the right direction as a program, but we still have a lot of room to improve both as a team and as individuals. It begins now.”

Check back to this website for continual off-season information, including team functions, recruiting news and post-season awards. To contact Tavi Mounsithiraj, click here to send him an email or call him at (574) 535-7235.