Goshen, IN — With Goshen fans, students and alumni packing the Goshen College Soccer Complex for Friday night’s home-opening tilt against NCAA Div. II Tiffin University, a saddening revelation occurred following 90 minutes of soccer:

No matter how much a fan base wills a team to win, an opponents’ girth has far greater relevance on the outcome.

Such was the conclusion Friday, as Goshen (0-2, 0-0) could not withstand a relentless battery of physical play from the guests, falling by a 0-2 score after straining for 65 minutes of scoreless soccer.

“We knew (Tiffin) would be a tough way to open our home schedule, but it was the physical part of the game that made it the toughest,” said Tavi Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “(The physical play) is what they do, and it made it tough on us to move the ball the way we wanted from the start. All we did was play defense in the first half especially, and they were able to attack from the start.”

Fortunately for the Leafs, two-time Mid-Central Conference Defender of the Year Joel Miller (senior) provided a strong anchor in the back, keeping the Dragons from scoring in the game’s first stanza. Goshen fans erupted during the game’s starting lineups, as senior goalkeeper Craig Welscott returned to the squad after missing Wednesday’s 0-1 loss at Siena Heights University due to a recurring stomach ailment (click here for related article). Welscott was reacquainted with the taste of competition early in the match, as a streaking Tiffin forward blasted Welscott with a kick in the chest in a runout attempt. After spending a minute on the turf, Welscott shook it off and continued for the rest of the night.

“I thought (Craig) played well for his first time out and considering the circumstances,” Mounsithiraj said. “He hasn’t practiced much and still is nowhere near feeling 100 percent.”

With Tiffin maintaining possession of the ball on Goshen’s half of the field for the majority of the first period, Miller, Welscott and company stayed busy. Several key deflections from senior Adam Yoder and sophomore Rusty Emery staved off the most serious Dragon attempts, including a headed corner kick that nearly crossed the Leafs’ goal line. That would-be tally was saved by senior Jesse Woodworth, who cleared the ball at the last possible moment.

“We adjusted a little bit to their physical play, but not enough,” Mounsithiraj said. “We couldn’t string four or five passes together with any consistency. They were just faster and more physical.”

Goshen found its best creative chances from the feet of sophomore Garet Osterloo, who entered off the bench in his first appearance in a Goshen uniform. A transfer who was not cleared by NAIA eligibility standards until Friday morning, Osterloo promptly took the midfield position by storm, using foot skill and quickness to help the Leafs make runs at the offensive end.

“We know Garet can do those types of things, but he was really good tonight for his first collegiate game,” Mounsithiraj said. “He is just so good with the ball, he doesn’t need to use his body. He just dances around out there and that created some chances for us.”

Avoiding Tiffin’s physicality, Osterloo led several pushes downfield, but none resulting in spectacular looks at the Dragons’ net. Junior Tony Janzen was the recipient of most long passes, but even the physical Janzen had trouble breaking free.

The entire complexity of the game changed at the 65th minute-mark, when a Leafs’ pass in the backfield was deflected by a Dragon forward. Tiffin used the misdirection to create a one-on-one chance, sliding the ball past Welscott into the lower right hand corner of the net.

Down 0-1, Goshen began to press forward. Several Tiffin counter attacks were thwarted, until an apparent Dragon cross attempt from the right end line began to curve toward the Leafs’ goal mouth. With Welscott backpedaling, the ball curved into the upper corner of the goal, giving the visitors a 2-0 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.

Effectively, the bent score was the final nail in the coffin.

“I thought we still had a chance after they got the first score, but the second just took the wind out of us,” Mounsithiraj said. “The kid is trying to make a cross and just got some spin on the ball and it goes in beautifully. Tough goal to give up.”

Tiffin finished with eight shots on the Leafs’ goal to just four attempts from Goshen.

“To hold this team scoreless in the first half, I thought that gave us a great chance,” Mounsithiraj said. “Their pressure again got to us, and that was the difference.”

The Leafs will have nearly no time to worry about this defeat, as the team will travel to Calvin College for a kick-off tomorrow afternoon. Match time is set for 2 p.m.