(Box Score) Goshen, IN — For a team that has virtually owned the University of St. Francis in recent post-season play, the Goshen College men’s soccer squad did not provide a glowing example of such a trend Saturday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.
Letting an early 2-0 lead evaporate, Goshen (10-6-2, 5-3) needed the majority of two overtimes — all while playing a man down — to hand the visiting Cougars a 3-2 defeat in the first round of the Mid-Central Conference Tournament, advancing to the tournament’s semi-final round by the slimmest of margins.
A breakaway goal by senior Tony Janzen sealed the outcome with just over eight minutes remaining in the second overtime, giving Goshen its fourth post-season win over St. Francis in as many years and its third consecutive opening-round win over USF in MCC Tournament action.
The win now pits third-seeded Goshen against seventh-seeded Marian College Monday night, as the Knights upset second-seed Taylor University by a 4-1 score earlier in the day on Saturday.
With a second straight home tournament game at stake — the Leafs will now host Marian Monday night at the GC Soccer Complex in one of the MCC Tournament semi-final matches — Saturday night’s win sounded more like a relief to Goshen head coach Tavi Mounsithiraj afterwards.
“Man, this was a big one for us tonight,” Mounsithiraj gasped. “We had good control of the match early on, but a bunch of things happened that gave St. Francis the momentum late. I am so pleased with how we continued to play so hard when things didn’t look good at all. We could have really folded, and we didn’t. Now we’re going to try and prolong this season for as long as we can.”
Mounsithiraj’s team used dominant control of possession to claim its early 2-0 lead, as Goshen struck twice in a matter of 46 seconds midway through the first period. Taking 10 total shots on USF’s frame in the first half, sophomore Luke Woodworth was the first to cash in, taking a loose ball just 10 yards in front of the Cougars’ net and toe-bashing his second score of the season at the 20:47 mark.
Woodworth was directly involved just moments later, sending a cross to Janzen which was subsequently blasted directly at USF keeper Nick Morken. Morken couldn’t handle the high-velocity shot, and junior Cody Felton was there to throttle the lose ball into the back of the net at the game’s 21:33 marker.
“I thought we came out and did a very good job creating chances and maintaining possession,” Mounsithiraj said. “We were fortunate to go into the second half with a two-nil lead, as we were making too many mistakes and giving USF too many chances in succession.”
Despite taking just four shots in the first half, the Cougars began to play with the ball in dangerous proximity to Goshen’s goal following the Leafs’ scores, the most dangerous series coming with just four minutes remaining. A bang-bang play immediately in front of the Leafs’ frame found senior goalkeeper Brad Graber in full extension, narrowly deflecting a USF shot that came inches from crossing the goal line for a score.
“Brad Graber came up with a big save,” Mounsithiraj said. “That one was a point-blank shot that Brad was able to get his big paw on.”
Even with the first-half avoidance, it was clear that St. Francis was gaining confidence in its offensive third. Just 12 minutes into the second period that confidence translated into points, as the Cougars’ Jake Briede made the most of a Goshen defensive breakdown, dribbling the ball twice at the top of the Leafs’ 18-yard box before calmly blasting a shot into the right side of the net to cut the lead in half.
“I thought we could just play good defense and play it safe, and I also reminded our guys (at halftime) that this USF side will not give up,” Mounsithiraj said. “A goal from us and the game is over and a goal from them and we will be here a lot longer. USF started playing inspired soccer and our side suddenly began playing with no urgency. We totally lost control of the tempo of the match and with five minutes to go we gave up the lead completely.”
It was Briede again at the 85th-minute mark, blasting a shot from just 10 yards away that caromed off a Goshen defender and into the Leafs’ net to tie the score at 2-2.
That score was compounded by a red card issued to sophomore Scott Wilkinson just two minutes later, as Goshen’s early 2-0 lead had become a distant memory.
“When Scott was ejected for a hard foul on the USF side, I thought to myself, ‘Houston, we have a problem,’” Mounsithiraj said. “We are now playing one man down for the rest of the match and will probably go into overtime. I did not want to go into a PK shootout with these guys again.”
Referring to last season’s penalty kick decision over the Cougars in the first round of MCC Tournament play (click here for article), Mounsithiraj was visibly emotional with his squad before the first overtime, speaking with vehement body language.
“I was just reminding our guys that we have a very good side and that we have practiced playing men down many times,” he said of his pre-overtime speech. “We have the personnel to get the job done with 10 men, we just need to play more inspired and to be patient.”
With Janzen now running by himself at forward — Mounsithiraj stacked his mid- and backfields playing without Wilkinson’s position — the senior All-American began to take over. A pair of first-overtime run outs finished with Janzen narrowly missing his shots, the latter of which was a laser that grazed the top of the crossbar drawing oohs from the packed crowd.
With just over eight minutes remaining in the second overtime, however, Janzen was not to be denied. Another through ball — this one from senior Peter Koontz — was misplayed by the St. Francis’ defense, giving Janzen a true one on one opportunity with Morken.
Janzen slid into a low liner shot attempt.
He began celebrating before the ball crossed the end line into the net.
“Tony worked so hard all night, and oh the goal he craved,” Mounsithiraj said. “As soon as the (game-winning) shot left his foot he began taking off his jersey and running toward the corner of the field with his teammates chasing him down for a celebration.”
While a jubilant moment for Janzen and company, the defeat was especially painful for St. Francis, as the Cougars suffered their fourth straight post-season loss to Goshen in the MCC Tournament. In addition to the Leafs’ aforementioned penalty-kick decision in last season’s MCC Tournament opener, Goshen defeated the Cougars by a 2-0 score in the first round of the MCC Tournament in 2005 (click here for article) and advanced to the 2004 MCC Tournament Championship after beating St. Francis by a 2-1 score in the semi-finals.
St. Francis’ 3-1 win over the Leafs during this year’s regular season was the Cougars’ first win over Goshen in the last three seasons (click here for article).
“If you didn’t think we’d have our work cut out for us tonight, you’re crazy,” Mounsithiraj said. “USF defeated us earlier in the year and this was the third year in a row that we met them in the first round of the MCC Tournament. That is a scenario for an absolute fight every time.”
Saturday’s contest was extremely physical in nature, as Wilkinson’s red card was a bookend following 29 total fouls (USF had 19) and four yellow cards (the teams split). While Wilkinson will have to sit out Goshen’s next contest, Marian provided the Leafs a favor by knocking off Taylor, giving Goshen one more game — at least — at home. Mounsithiraj’s team would have traveled to Upland had Taylor beaten Marian.
“We’ve only got one day to prepare, but we will do our best,” Mounsithiraj said. “I’m happy for our team in that we’ve got another home match. It should be a good one.”
Goshen defeated Marian by a 2-0 score in Indianapolis on Sept. 22 (click here for article). The teams will now tangle on Monday night, as MCC officials moved up the tournament semi-finals by two days to allow winning teams additional time to prepare for the NAIA Region VIII Championship.
Match time is set for 7 p.m. Monday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Admission is $2 for students and $5 for adults.
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Senior Tony Janzen 
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