Goshen, IN — With alumni filling the stands (homecoming weekend) and the Goshen College men’s soccer team writhing mad (the team dropped a 1-4 decision to Mid-Central College foe Bethel College just 17 hours earlier), things did not look particularly good for the visiting Grace Bible College Tigers from the outset. And, following 90 minutes of soccer, it wasn’t a pretty sight, as Goshen ran roughshod over Grace Bible, winning by a 6-0 score and attempting to start a new winning streak in the process.

“Last night was tough for us,” Mounsithiraj said of the Friday night loss to Bethel, the team’s first defeat of the season following a seven-game winning streak. “I tried to tell the guys that we still have a lot of matches ahead of us in the season and it started today with this homecoming match.”

Goshen (8-1-1, 2-1) appeared to listen. Despite Mounsithiraj resting several of his regular players — sophomore Benji Graber and freshmen Rusty Emery, Andrew Landis and Ben Martin all recorded their first starts of the season on the defensive side — the Leafs took it directly to Grace Bible from the outset, outshooting the Tigers by a 15 to one count and totally dominating play from the kickoff.

The Leafs split up their scoring in perfect symmetry, as the team held a 3-0 lead at the half and did not look back. Freshman Dirk Miller finished the day with two scores — the firsts of his collegiate career — while classmate David Shenk also got into the scoring act. Junior Reuben Yoder was the beneficiary of freshman Peter Miller’s assist while freshman Cody Felton was again a bundle of energy, scoring a goal as well.

“This was a fun match for us playing in front of alumni that was back on campus as a part of all the homecoming festivities,” Mounsithiraj said. “The result gets us back on the winning track again as we continue to prepare for MCC play. I was pleased to see some of our younger players getting quality minutes and I am quite excited about some of these players’ potential.”

Goshen will square off in its final non-conference match on Thursday, when Rochester College visits the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Match time is slated to begin at 4 p.m.