(Official Stats) Goshen, IN — It was a series of events that seemed to boggle the mind Wednesday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex, with little reasonable justification available.

The Goshen College men’s soccer team found itself down by a 1-0 score to Madonna University at halftime of the NAIA Region VIII Semi Finals, being dominated in all facets of play. The Leafs trudged off the field at the intermission, with only the final 45 minutes of play separating the squad from a season-ending defeat.

But then again, the current run of this team has been nothing short of magical.

Perhaps that could be the only explanation.

Somehow channeling a remarkable turn of momentum and poise, Goshen (15-5-2, 6-1-1) turned the tables on the visiting Crusaders, blasting scores just 13 and 19 minutes into the second half to come away with a remarkable 2-1 win in front of a packed GC Soccer Complex crowd. The comeback win earned Goshen a trip to the NAIA Region VIII Championship match for the first time in program history, pitting the team one win away from the NAIA National Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida.

It wouldn’t have been possible without the Leafs’ complete makeover during Wednesday’s halftime, however, leading most everyone to ask the same question.

“(Madonna head coach) Tino Scicluna came up to me after the game, shook my hand and asked, ‘What did you say at halftime?’” Goshen head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj said. “I don’t think it was anything magical. We just had a group of guys that were upset with how poorly they played in the first half, and wanted to do something about it.”

What Mounsithiraj’s squad did was completely change the look of the game, as it appeared Goshen had no chance from the opening kickoff. Struggling with Madonna’s physicality and intensity, the Leafs surrendered a goal just five minutes into the match, after a series of Crusader crosses led to a headed score by Madonna’s Humberto Toscan. Toscan’s slow-rolling tap caught Goshen out of position, and Madonna had a 1-0 lead literally minutes into the match.

It was fortunate that was the only score allowed by Goshen, as Madonna continually held possession during the opening period. All three of the Crusaders’ corner kicks occurred in the first half of play, as well as a golden opportunity at a score gone awry. A foul called on senior goalkeeper Craig Welscott gave Madonna a penalty kick midway through the first period, but the shot sailed well over the Leafs’ goal, keeping the score at 1-0.

“First of all, Madonna is an outstanding program,” Mounsithiraj said. “This is their sixth straight season playing in the (NAIA) regional, so it’s nothing new to them. We knew they would be strong and physical, but not as physical they turned out to be. In the first half, they did not allow us to get a look at the ball and completely took us out of our rhythm. They have big guys that like to tackle you hard and won’t let you turn, and they came very hard at us. I think we were a bit taken aback.”

Without even a hint of sniffing the Crusaders’ goal in the first half — the best look Goshen had was a corner-kick opportunity with 30 seconds remaining, the team’s only corner of the period — things looked dreary as the halftime horn sounded. The usual buzz in the stands was absent, and the body language of Goshen’s players did nothing to change the attitude.

The second-half play, however, did.

Like a newly-rejuvenated team, Goshen began to attack. Improved ball-handling and passing in the midfield put Madonna on its heels, and just 13 minutes into the period the Leafs obtained their second corner kick of the night.

The result was like a great re-run on television that never gets old.

Sophomore Raad Qumsieh sent a high-arching ball into the Crusader box and, for the fourth time this season, senior Joel Miller was there above everyone else to greet it. Miller elevated his 6-6 frame to its peak, met the ball at its highest point and headed it violently into the back of the net, tying the game and instantly plugging new energy into his teammates.

In a rare form of emotion, Miller raced toward the student-body crowd, lifted his shirt off his chest and screamed.

“That goal did a lot for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “When el capitan does something like that, guys step up and do a little more. Joel is a leader for us and that goal said to our team, ‘Guys, we can do this.’”

It took just five minutes for Qumsieh to vehemently agree.

Again pressuring up front, Qumsieh intercepted a pass in Madonna’s backfield and volleyed a rocket past the Crusaders’ keeper at the game’s 64th minute, giving — surprise! — Goshen a 2-1 lead with just over 26 minutes remaining in regulation. After scoring four goals in a brilliant freshman campaign last season, Qumsieh notched his most impressive collegiate score to date. It was also his first of the 2006 season.

“Lately we’ve had some unsung heroes that have stepped up and given us huge performances,” Mounsithiraj said. “Tonight it was Raad. We’re so happy for him and that he played well. I feel like we’ve got a team full of guys that, on any given night, can do some big things on the field.”

Qumsieh kept the pressure on Madonna for the rest of the contest, continually attacking up front and keeping the Crusaders from mounting any offensive push in the final 26 minutes of play. Following a dominant first half, Madonna attempted no shots on Goshen’s goal in the second period.

“We talked about matching Madonna’s intensity and physical play at halftime, and I think we did that,” Mounsithiraj said. “We moved the ball much quicker in the second half and began making quick passes or turning the ball right away. I also think we were able to wear them down by going deeper into our reserves. We were much more aggressive and had a much better presence up front.”

Miller and senior Jared Price laid claim to the final 20 minutes of the contest, using their speed, strength and skill to turn away any Madonna advancement. Miller continuously won balls out of the air in the middle of the field, while Price reversed multiple Crusader attacks with long dribbles up the side of the field.

“The entire team decided to get together and get this done,” Mounsithiraj said. “It’s really that simple.”

The win moves Goshen into the NAIA Region VIII Championship on Saturday, as the team will travel to Cornerstone University for a 12 p.m. match. The winner of that match receives an automatic bid to the NAIA National Championships beginning next week, a tournament Goshen hasn’t participated in since the storied 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1977 seasons. The NAIA reconstructed post-season play in the mid 1980’s, coming up with the current regional playoff system that this year’s Leafs team continues to march through.

Sadly, the Leafs must win Saturday’s match for a legitimate chance at qualifying for the national tournament, as even the team’s recent surge and impressive regular-season resume might not be enough for an at-large bid. With several of the nation’s top 10 teams already bounced from their respective regional tournaments, Goshen will — in all likelihood — need a win Saturday to advance.

“It’s a must-win situation for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “We are excited to play Cornerstone and are looking forward to the challenge. They are a very good team that has lost only one match all year. They have the NAIA Region VIII Player of the Year (senior midfielder Tom Skilling) and will be tough to beat at home. It’s exciting just to play in the final of the regional, and I’m so happy for our program and for our fans. We will try our best Saturday.”

Cornerstone (11-1-7, 8-1-3) — the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference’s number one seed — advanced to the regional championship after passing Indiana Wesleyan University in a 3-1 penalty kick decision earlier Wednesday. The game was notched at 2-2 after regulation and a pair of overtimes forced the PK shootout. Cornerstone holds home field Saturday due to an annual, alternating home site rule in regional play. The WHAC holds that advantage this year. 91.1 FM The Globe is working to secure air time to broadcast Saturday’s match live on both the FM dial and www.globeradio.org. Check back to this site for updates to that status.

UPDATE, 11/10/06: The Goshen College athletic department received official word that 91.1 FM The Globe and www.globeradio.org will be broadcasting the NAIA Region VIII Championship Saturday at 12 p.m., giving listeners around the world an opportunity to listen as Goshen makes its attempt at qualifying for the NAIA National Championships. For those interested in traveling to Grand Rapids, Michigan for the contest, a map of Cornerstone University can be found by clicking here.