(Box Score) Goshen, IN — In sports, they are often referred to as ‘trap games,’ or games that have the tendency to be overlooked by teams for one reason or another. Generally, trap games consist of a team having a bigger, more highly anticipated game upcoming, thus leading to the potential for a letdown against that squad’s current opponent.
Wednesday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex, the Goshen College men’s soccer team showed it doesn’t believe in the term whatsoever.
With a match against Mid-Central Conference and cross-town rival Bethel College looming just 48 hours away, Goshen tended to the task at hand on Wednesday, securing its second straight league win in a 3-1 decision over Taylor University. The Leafs needed only a minor wake-up call — Taylor scored just under eight minutes into the match — before turning on the juice, rattling off an equalizer goal just four minutes later and eventually cruising to the 3-1 decision.
“This was another key win for us tonight, especially after giving up an early goal to a very good TU side,” said Tavi Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Their score game off a set play and I was a little disappointed that we did not do a good job recognizing the piece, as we had seen it before. It didn’t take us long to find an equalizer goal, however, and sometimes you need a little jolt.”
That “jolt” caught nearly everyone in attendance off guard, as Taylor’s Michael Zaino ran over an indirect kick and then received the ball from teammate Nate Miller, scoring on an ensuing one-on-one chance with Leafs’ goalkeeper Anthony Giovarelli at the 7:52 mark.
Awoken — not rattled — Goshen would respond less than four minutes later, as senior Tony Janzen sent a hard ball into the Trojans’ box at the 11:46 mark. Junior Cody Felton deftly let the ball slip between his legs, leaving it for classmate Garet Osterloo. Osterloo responded with an easy tap in, scoring his first goal as a Maple Leaf in the process.
“Garet is usually our set-up guy and doesn’t get many quality chances on goal,” Mounsithiraj said. “Oh the goal he craved!”
Perhaps ignited by Osterloo’s score, the Leafs began to run away with things. An eventual 18 to eight advantage in total shots and nine to two difference in shots on goal adequately illustrated Goshen’s ensuing dominance, as the team added to its lead just minutes before halftime.
Again it was Janzen acting as the distributor, sending another ball into Taylor’s 18-yard box this time to the feet of sophomore Reuben Stoltzfus, who volleyed the ball into the back of the net for his first collegiate score.
Goshen made sure not to let up in the attack in the second period, as Giovarelli had to make just one save behind a stout effort from his fellow defensive mates. Janzen added an insurance goal at the 80:50 mark — and his team-best ninth score of the season — in spectacular fashion: Sophomore Luke Woodworth sent a beautiful pass into the center of the field and Janzen — bringing back memories of 2007 graduate Joel Miller — went high above everyone to head the ball into frame.
The goal caused quite a scene in the Goshen College Soccer Complex stands, as the Leafs were all but assured a second consecutive, 3-1 league win.
“Janzen was simply awesome again tonight,” Mounsithiraj said. “All season long opponents have been marking him and denying him the ball, and somehow he gets two assists and scores a goal. He works so hard and surely deserved his stat line this evening.”
Mounsithiraj and company now turn their collective attention to the immediate west, as Goshen will make the short trip to Bethel on Friday night as the tail end of a men’s-women’s double-header. Match time is slated to begin approximately at 8 p.m. and immediately after the conclusion of the women’s game (slated to begin at 6 p.m.).
“I was quite pleased with our defensive team tonight as they continue to improve as the season progresses,” Mounsithiraj said. “We have just about 48 hours to soak in the victory because waiting on Friday will be Bethel College. We have a lot of work to do to get ourselves ready for that match. It will be a tough task. We need to stay focused and keep working hard.”
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Junior Garet Osterloo