(Box Score) Huntington, IN — As has often been the case in Goshen’s pursuit of recent Mid-Central Conference Championships, sometimes the biggest action occurs on soccer fields other than those where the Leafs are playing.
Such was again the circumstance this week, as Goshen’s 3-0 win at Huntington University was bolstered by a 2-0 Bethel College win over sixth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University Wednesday night. The compound result of both contests — in short — now gives Goshen (9-5-2, 5-2) a chance at its third straight MCC Co-Championship.
Goshen hosts Indiana Wesleyan Saturday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex in its final regular-season contest of the year.
That match now matters much, much more.
“This (Huntington match) was another important conference win for us, and we got some needed help (Wednesday) at Bethel,” said Tavi Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “When we scheduled (Saturday’s match with) Indiana Wesleyan a year ago, it was just another MCC match. Now it’s no longer just another game, it’s a championship.”
Wesleyan’s loss at Bethel on Wednesday pitted the Wildcats with a 6-1 record in MCC play, just a game ahead of Goshen’s 5-2 mark. A Leafs’ win Saturday night, however, gives the tie-breaker to Goshen. With it would come the team’s third straight MCC co-title, the number one seed in the upcoming MCC Tournament and an automatic berth to NAIA regional competition. A tie or a loss would send Goshen anywhere from second to fourth in the final league standings.
“We will honor our seniors Saturday night, but now we’ve got much more to play for,” Mounsithiraj said. “This is all that we ever ask for. . .an opportunity to win a title.”
The Leafs needed to win at Huntington on Tuesday to even be in the area code for such an opportunity, and the squad responded with a business-like approach over the MCC-winless Foresters. Goshen broke into the scoring column just 23 minutes into play when junior David Shenk took a corner kick from sophomore Luke Woodworth and headed the ball into the net. Senior Tony Janzen added to the lead just over 15 minutes later, as sophomore Nick Good weaved through three Huntington defenders before sending a beautiful through ball to Janzen. Just six yards away from the frame, Janzen had little trouble finishing off Good’s assist.
“I thought right from the opening kick off we were the better team and surely deserved the result,” Mounsithiraj said. “We went into the half with a 2-0 lead and really felt comfortable all afternoon.”
Mounsithiraj’s squad sat on that cushion for much of the second period, eventually claiming a 17 to 12 advantage in total shots and a 10 to seven difference in shots on goal. Janzen scored again with just over eight minutes remaining in the match, after classmate Nate Montiel fed him a pass during a counter attack.
“Tony’s second score came as a result of Huntington really pushing forward trying to cut into our lead,” Mounsithiraj said. “We were able to get a counter and Tony placed a great shot into the right corner with little the HU keeper could do. From that point on, we were just focused on getting a shutout.”
Mounsithiraj’s defensive team of sophomore Kyle Stiffney, junior Rusty Emery, junior Ben Martin and freshman Martin Brubaker obliged, while senior Brad Graber collected his third straight shutout in goal, garnering a total seven saves.
“Our defensive team is starting to really step up,” Mounsithiraj said. “I was again really pleased with the play in our backfield, and Brad Graber was credited with his third shutout in his third career start.”
Following the win, the Leafs turned their collective attention to Mishawaka, as the team traveled to Bethel on Wednesday to watch the Pilots and Wildcats meet. No explanation was needed to any of Mounsithiraj’s players following the result of that match, however, as everyone knew what Bethel’s win meant.
“We’ve been given a little bit of new life,” Mounsithiraj said. “After we lost our second conference game this year, we all thought there was no way we could win another championship. Sometimes you need some help from someone else. We’ll just do our best now to win Saturday. We owe it to ourselves to go after it completely.”
Goshen will host sixth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday night for a share of the regular-season MCC Championship. Seniors Jon Casselberry-Scott, Brad Graber, Benji Graber, Joel Gonzalez, Tony Janzen, Pete Koontz, Nate Montiel and Matt Yoder will all be honored prior to the game. Kick-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.
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Senior Tony Janzen