Bluffton, OH — Goshen head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj had a pretty good idea that his team was better than the Bluffton University side going into Saturday’s match.

What he couldn’t have known was how Bluffton would treat the sister-school rivalry.

Goshen (2-3, 0-0) survived a scare from the host Beavers Saturday afternoon behind a pair of timely second-half scores, pushing the team to its second straight win and sweep of Goshen’s sister school (the women defeated the Beavers 1-0 in double-overtime in the day’s first match; click here for related article).

“Anytime you can get a win away from home, it’s a good result,” Mounsithiraj said following Saturday’s tilt. “Right from the start Bluffton was pumped to play against us. We were fortunate not to give up a goal in the first 10 minutes of the match. They were ready to play.”

A packed house at Bluffton somewhat negated what looked to be a mismatch on paper — the Beavers have yet to win in 2005 and captured just a 6-13 record in 2005 — as the hosts dominated play early. Needing to rely on the veteran defensive backfield led by senior Joel Miller, Goshen thwarted Bluffton’s early push, though Mounsithiraj said it was a wake-up call.

“It took us awhile to get going here,” Mounsithiraj said. “Once we settled down and kept possession of the ball our team was able to create some chances on goal. Nothing was a real danger for Bluffton in the first half, and we went into the second half with a 0-0 tie.”

Urging his squad to match the intensity of the Beavers, Goshen slowly responded. Better possession of the ball allowed the Leafs to slowly dominate play — Mounsithiraj’s team would eventually take seven corner kicks to Bluffton’s two — while better looks at the Beavers’ net started to mount up. Freshman Kyle Stiffney was the first to find the back of the apparatus at the 65th minute-mark, where some deft dribbling and a well-placed shot skipped past the Bluffton keeper for a 1-0 Goshen advantage.

A strong counter-attack just eight minutes later knotted things up once again, however, as Bluffton’s Nate Flate was able to head home a tying goal in the 73rd minute.

In the end, however, it was Goshen’s talent and persistence that was simply too much. Sophomore Cody Felton notched his first score of the 2006 campaign — he had 11 in 2005 — with just three minutes remaining, taking a pass from senior Jesse Woodworth just inside the penalty box and juggling his way to a shot that slipped just past the outstretched hands of the Bluffton keeper. Felton’s goal was the first cash-in on what seemed to be multiple Leafs’ opportunities in the final 10 minutes of play, according to Mounsithiraj.

“In the second half I told the guys to be more patient on the attack and continue to keep possession,” he said. “We continued to push forward late, but we wasted so many opportunities in front of (Bluffton’s) goal and again credit that to Bluffton’s defense for making things tough for us.”

Goshen recorded seven shots on goal to Bluffton’s four on the afternoon. Senior goalkeeper Craig Welscott was credited for three saves, going the distance in goal.

“I was pleased with today’s result,” Mounsithiraj said. “Bluffton University is a good side and very young starting five or six first-year players. Their future looks good. I thought the team did a great job of getting this win away from home and I know we have a lot of work still to do.”

Mounsithiraj and company will not have long to work before the next match, as the University of Illinois-Springfield will visit the Goshen College Soccer Complex on Tuesday evening. Match time is set for 7 p.m.