Goshen, IN — The collective freight train that has become the 2005 Goshen College men’s soccer team continued to chug along Saturday afternoon at the Goshen College Soccer Complex, as the team opened the Mid-Central Conference portion of its schedule with a satisfying 1-0 win over Spring Arbor University. The decision was the Leafs’ sixth consecutive win on the year, the program’s longest win streak since head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj took over the program in 2001. Goshen twice won five consecutive matches in during last year’s incredible 14-4-4 campaign, but never could string six in a row. Mounsithiraj didn’t seem concerned with streaks following the match, however.

“Winning at home in our first Mid-Central Conference match of the year is very important,” Mounsithiraj said. “Today I thought we played just well enough to get our first MCC contest win against a very good Spring Arbor side. You know, the match could have gone either way. I’m pleased with how we played and getting the result.”

Goshen (6-0-1, 1-0) had various challenges coming into the match, most notably how to contain Spring Arbor’s Aaron Mason off the sidelines. Mason has the unique ability to chuck throw-ins distances of 30 to 40 yards, making what normally is relatively easy to defense much more difficult.

“Spring Arbor is a very good team with players that can go up and down the field quickly, but I thought the biggest problem we had was trying to defend Mason’s throw ins,” Mounsithiraj said. “That (distance) makes it so hard to defense. I thought we managed to keep that under control but not without some problems in front of our own goal.”

Spring Arbor’s Mike Yoder got the best look at the match’s first goal opportunity 15 minutes into the action, sending a well-struck liner that fortunately banged the crossbar and fell harmlessly away from the Leafs’ net. The teams traded looks and possession throughout the match — Goshen outshot the Cougars by a 9-7 count — but it was sophomore forward Tony Janzen that changed all that in the game’s 35th minute.

After receiving a through ball from freshman Cody Felton, Janzen put on a sweet dribbling display, winning the pass from a pair of determined Spring Arbor defenders. Janzen then beat the remaining Cougar defender off the dribble for his eighth score of the season, tops on the team.

“It was an all out hustle play by Janzen to create that goal,” Mounsithiraj said. “He outfought everyone to the ball.”

After the subsequent 10 minutes yielded a 1-0 Goshen lead at the half, Mounsithiraj said his halftime speech was “simple.” The team did not need anymore goals to win the match, but it needed to step up and play solid defense for 45 minutes.

With Spring Arbor pressuring more and more as the clock wound down in the second period, the Leafs did just that. Junior goalkeeper Craig Welscott posted his third shutout of the season with seven saves, while Mounsithiraj’s back line continued to show the form champions are made of.

“Spring Arbor was coming at us all over the field in the second half,” Mounsithiraj said. “They had some good looks that could have easily tied up the match, but Craig Welscott came up with some big saves. It was just enough for us to get this all-important MCC victory, heading into another MCC match next week.”

Goshen will return to its home turf Wednesday, when MCC rival Taylor University visits. Match time is set for 7 p.m. That match will be broadcast by 91.1 FM The Globe. Click here for webcast information.