NOV. 6 — Franklin Named All-Mid-Central Conference
Senior ends career with second consecutive honor

Senior Tera Franklin

Goshen, IN — Finishing her career off in style, senior Tera Franklin was voted to All-Mid-Central Conference status for the second straight year Thursday, an honor voted upon by league coaches. Franklin scored three goals and dished seven assists for the Maple Leafs in the 2003 season, and was called upon as a leader by head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj.

“In a very strong and competitive MCC conference, Tera was clearly one of the standout players in the conference,” Mounsithiraj said. “Tera is a tenacious team player with a fabulous attitude and a contagious enthusiasm for the game. She is a tireless worker, spending countless time after training session to work on her skills. She is a soft-spoken leader who does not feel the need to run the show but always demonstrates more knowledge than she says. She always gave the team her very best.”

Franklin helped lead the Leafs to a 5-10 record and a 1-6 mark in conference play. She was directly involved in two of Goshen’s one-score wins — Franklin scored the game’s only goal in Goshen’s 1-0 win over Adrian on Sept. 10 while her assist led to a 1-0 win over Huntington on Oct. 8.

“It has been a delight to see Tera’s growth and maturity, with both coming as a direct result of her willingness to work hard on her own,” Mounsithiraj said. “Student-athletes like Tera do not come along every year, and we will miss her tremendously.”

Franklin was one of 18 selected to the all-conference team. To view the entire list of All-MCC award winners, click here. Check back to this site for the most up-to-date recruiting news surrounding Goshen soccer.

NOV. 1 — Goshen Can't Pull Upset In MCC Tournament
Leafs play St. Francis tough, but can't get offense untracked in 2-0 loss

Fort Wayne, IN — Facing the second-seeded St. Francis Cougars in the opening round of the Mid-Central Conference tournament, the Goshen women’s soccer team could not generate any type of offense and fell by a 2-0 score. The host Cougars dominated the game with a 27 to zero advantage in shots on goal, though the Leafs’ effort was much better than their regular-season meeting with St. Francis — the Cougars won that match by a 5-0 count exactly one month earlier.

In Saturday’s contest, it was St. Francis who got on the board early, scoring a shaky goal in the first half. Junior keeper Megan Morris bobbled a would-be save, and the Cougars pounced on the rebound in the eighth minute of the game. Morris concluded the match with an amazing 18 saves, keeping St. Francis within striking range throughout the match.

“I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this match despite the loss,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We made a notable improvement since our loss to St. Francis in the regular season. They are a very fast and skillful team and are just unrelenting in their attack. I believed we were very disciplined and focused in our defensive coverage throughout the course of the match. The only goal in the first half resulted from Megan mishandling a very slippery ball.”

In the second half Goshen (5-10, 1-6) continued to stay close, but just couldn’t get anything going offensively. St. Francis eventually would score again off a corner kick assist (the Cougars took eight corners to Goshen’s zero) and the Leafs could never mount an offensive attack late.

“We did not get any chances on the offensive side but we were able to maintain possession more effectively this time around,” Mounsithiraj said. “Our seniors gave a tremendous performance. I am extremely proud of their effort and leadership.”

OCT. 17 — Leafs Close Out Regular Season With Win
Goshen takes care of Cardinal Stritch 4-0 on senior night

Juke move: Senior Tera Franklin whisks past a Cardinal Stritch defender in the first half of Friday night’s match. Franklin finished her home career with three assists against the Wolves.

Tenacious D: Senior Leah Rayl slides in to take the ball away from a Cardinal Stritch forward in first half action Friday night.

Goshen, IN — Prior to Friday night’s match with Cardinal Stritch University, the Goshen women’s soccer program’s seniors were honored in a brief ceremony. Seniors Ashley Clark, Tera Franklin, Greta Kauffman, Miriam Miller and Leah Rayl were escorted to the field by their parents, as the fivesome received balloons and gifts from their teammates. This was the last home match these seniors would ever participate in, and the crowd stood and applauded the players’ respective careers.

The seniors then made sure the party didn’t end there.

Playing with a palpable sense of urgency, Goshen dominated play from the opening kickoff and handed Cardinal Stritch a 4-0 loss in the Leafs’ last regular season match. Goshen took a 1-0 lead into the half and never allowed the visiting Wolves a chance, adding three more scores in the last 25 minutes to secure the victory.

“This was a fun game to watch and coach,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “The main emphasis was to play a fun and attractive brand of soccer and to play with urgency. We did both tonight.”

Goshen (5-9, 1-6) started things off when sophomore Tara Plank took a gorgeous pass from Franklin 26 minutes into the match to score the game’s first goal. After controlling possession of the ball for the remainder of the half, the Leafs went back to work in the second, when Kauffman took an Ashley Sider (junior) pass and scored at the 65th minute. Franklin would add two more assists to her night: Plank scored again at the 72nd minute and freshman Anita Hooley used a Franklin dish to record her first goal as a collegian at the 81st minute mark.

“We moved the ball really well tonight,” Mounsithiraj said. “More significantly our halfbacks created plenty of space by moving without the ball. Our goals resulted in quality passes and finishing.”

Goshen outshot Stritch by a 12 to seven count for the night, although each of the Wolves’ shots were picked up with relative ease by junior goalkeeper Megan Morris.

“Cardinal Stritch is a very physical team with two or three players that can handle the ball extremely well and with speed,” Mounsithiraj said. “I am extremely pleased with our attacking and defending tonight. This was definitely a quality win for us.”

Goshen will now sit idle until the Mid-Central Conference Tournament on Nov. 1. With several MCC teams having conference games remaining to be played, it is uncertain of where and who the Leafs will face. Check back to this site for conference tournament information, which will be posted as it becomes available.

OCT. 15 — Poor First Half Dooms Goshen Against Taylor
Visiting Lady Trojans score four first-period goals in 4-0 defeat of Leafs

Goshen, IN — It didn’t take long for visiting Taylor University to feel at home at the Goshen College Soccer Complex Wednesday afternoon, as the Lady Trojans scored four goals in the first 15 minutes of the match to put away Goshen. The Leafs’ hopes of a two-game Mid-Central Conference winning streak were doused quickly, as Goshen head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj was disappointed in his team’s play early on.

“Our poor start once again deeply hurt us,” he said. “Those four goals resulted in Taylor players having open looks at our goal. Our defense had been playing extremely well over the course of the season, which is why it was such a disappointing way to give away the match.”

The overall play of Goshen (4-9, 1-6) rebounded somewhat through the remainder of the match, but Mounsithiraj’s squad couldn’t find the back of the net to get any closer. Goshen was outshot by a 15 to five count for the afternoon.

“There were a few bright moments offensively in the first half for us, but we failed to take advantage of the space that was given to us,” Mounsithiraj said. “We played a much better second half but being down four goals against a team like Taylor is too overwhelming. I feel I didn’t prepare our team well enough both with our tactics and our mental approach to this match.”

Goshen will close out its regular season and celebrate senior night on Friday, when the team hosts Cardinal Stritch University. Match time is slated for approximately 7 p.m., and will begin at the conclusion of the men’s match against Cardinal Stritch. The men’s contest will begin at 5 p.m.

OCT. 8 — Leafs Grab First MCC Win Of Season
Goshen takes down Huntington after Kauffman's score

Senior Greta Kauffman Senior Tera Franklin

Huntington, IN — After an 0-4 start to Mid-Central Conference competition, the Goshen women’s soccer team came up with a big 1-0 win at Huntington Wednesday, ending a three-game losing skid in the process.

“It was a needed win for us in the conference,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach.

Goshen (4-8, 1-5) scored the only goal of the contest early, when senior Tera Franklin took a corner kick and classmate Greta Kauffman headed the ball into the net at the 11th minute mark. It was Kauffman’s second score of the season and Franklin’s third assist, though Mounsithiraj wanted more. Goshen took just seven shots on goal for the match — Huntington took nine — leaving the Leafs’ head coach urging his squad to increase its offensive chances.

“Huntington was pretty stingy in giving us quality opportunities at their goal after we scored early,” Mounsithiraj said. “We need to take more risks at our attacking third and go after those half chances instead of waiting for a perfect play. As a team we continued to defend well, though. Huntington pressured us pretty hard in the last five minutes of the match inside our 18. We remained patient and disciplined, and were able to protect the lead.”

Goshen will next host MCC foe Taylor University, when the Trojans come to Goshen Wednesday. Match time is slated for a 4 p.m. start.

OCT. 1 — Strong St. Francis Squad Too Much For Goshen
Cougars take 5-0 decision with offensive assault

Junior Megan Morris

Fort Wayne, IN — Playing its second Mid-Central Conference match in under 24 hours, the Goshen women’s soccer team could not hold off a steady St. Francis attack Wednesday afternoon, dropping a 5-0 decision to the host Cougars. St. Francis took an amazing 30 shots on goal for the contest, the most shots the Leafs have allowed in a single game this season. Junior goalkeeper Megan Morris had a tremendous day in goal however, garnering a career-high 19 saves in keeping the score respectable.

“The score could have been a lot higher tonight,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “St. Francis took control early on and dominated us on both ends of the field. This is probably the best team we have played and will play this season. Their speed of play and skills were difficult to contain. We were unable to defend their attack from the wings as their first three goals all came from crosses from the outside. Megan Morris made so many close saves for us. She was outstanding in goal.”

Goshen (3-7, 0-4) had its best chance to score late in the first half, when senior Greta Kauffman stole the ball from a St. Francis defender and had a one on one opportunity with the Cougars’ goalkeeper. The keeper was able to make a great save, however, keeping the score 3-0 at the half. The Cougars were able to add on two more goals late.

Goshen will return to action Friday night in an exhibition match, when the team will take on Goshen College alumni. The squad will return to MCC play on Saturday, when Goshen will travel to Indianapolis for a match with Marian. Match time is slated for 12 p.m.

SEPT. 30 — Leafs Suffer Painful Overtime Loss To Grace
Lancers knock in free kick with 25 seconds remaining in OT to win 1-0

Goshen, IN — After playing a solid, controlled 99 minutes of soccer against Mid-Central Conference rival Grace Tuesday night, a Goshen mistake wound up being the difference in a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to the Lancers.

A Goshen foul just outside the box with only 25 seconds remaining in the first overtime gave the visiting Lancers a free kick, and Grace’s Jodi Pepper took advantage, bending a shot past junior goalkeeper Megan Morris to set off a celebration for the visitors.

“It was a tough way to lose a close game,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “The Grace free kick late was just well taken. There wasn’t much Megan Morris could do about it. We played the match well both offensively and defensively, but in a close game like it was tonight, any mistake can hurt deeply.”

Goshen (3-6, 0-3) was able to control possession of the ball and used crisp passing throughout the match, keeping a high-scoring Grace squad from mounting much of an attack. And while the Lancers did finish the match with a 7-5 advantage in shots on goal, it was the Leafs that had the best chance to score midway through the first half. Junior Kiara Wagoner took a Tera Franklin (senior) pass and found herself wide open in front of the goal, but lost her footing just prior to taking a point blank shot. Goshen would never get as good of a look at the apparatus, as Grace did a nice job defensively on the night.

“We had some quality chances at the goal, but we weren’t able to finish,” Mounsithiraj said.

Save for the late error, it was a solid night defensively for Goshen as well, as the Leafs shut down the MCC’s leading scorer in Kari Wildman. Senior Miriam Miller was assigned to marking Wildman for most of the night, making the going tough for the all-conference striker.

“Miriam did an outstanding job marking (Wildman),” Mounsithiraj said. “We’ll keep on working.”

Goshen has less than 24 hours to rest up for its next match, as the squad will travel to Fort Wayne to face MCC foe St. Francis on Wednesday. Match time is slated for 3 p.m.

SEPT. 23 — Goshen Gets Big Win At Manchester
Kauffman breaks scoreless tie with goal at 82nd minute

Sophomore Molly Kauffman

North Manchester, IN — Securing its biggest win of the season thus far, the Goshen College women’s soccer team took a 1-0 decision from host Manchester College Tuesday afternoon, coming on the heels of a 9-1 shell-shocking of Davenport University just five days earlier. The Leafs (3-5, 0-2) were able to hand the Spartans just their third loss of the season and put together back to back wins of their own for the first time this year.

“This is definitely a rewarding and meaningful win for us,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Manchester is a good team that came into tonight with a 5-2 record. We knew that they could score and score a lot of goals in short amounts of time. Manchester can handle the ball and has tremendous speed all over the field. We executed our defense nicely.”

Freshman Hannah Eash was assigned to defend the Spartans’ standout sophomore forward, Missy King, and limited her to only her second game of the season without a score or an assist. And while Manchester was able to get off 18 shots on goal to the Leafs’ two, it was sophomore Molly Kauffman who broke the scoreless tie with a rocket outside the box at the 82nd minute mark to put her squad ahead.

“We knew that Molly has the ability to score, but she really showed us tonight with her game-deciding shot just outside the 18-yard box,” Mounsithiraj said. “Our halfbacks also did an extraordinary job defending and taking care of the ball. (Junior) Megan Morris continued to make incredible plays for us in goal. (Junior) Kiara Wagoner had a very good game tonight, playing well on both ends of the field. I am very happy with our match tonight.”

Goshen will have a week to prepare for its next match, when the team will return to Mid-Central Conference play against Grace in a men-women double header at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Women’s match time is slated to begin at 5 p.m., with the men’s game starting immediately following.

SEPT. 18 — Leafs Erupt For Nine Scores On Davenport
Goshen handles Panthers with seven-goal second half for 9-1 blowout

Goshen, IN — Just two days after using a defensive game plan against undefeated and 19th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University, the Goshen women’s soccer team was able to change gears completely in a 9-1 bashing of winless Davenport University Thursday afternoon at the Goshen Soccer Complex. And while the Leafs’ start to the match was slow — Goshen only possessed a 2-1 lead at the intermission — the squad responded with an explosion in the second half, scoring seven goals after a stern halftime lecture from its coach.

“We started the match extremely flat,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “There was no sense of urgency at all in our play. We were given many quality chances to score but failed to finish.”

Goshen’s first half scores came off a corner kick — senior Greta Kauffman was able to head a shot into the net from classmate Tera Franklin’s boot at the 10th minute — and sophomore Tara Plank’s one on one goal at the 29th minute mark. Despite not having possession of the ball for the majority of the half, Davenport was able pull within a goal off a beautiful, 30-yard rocket into the net with 10 minutes remaining in the period, further incensing Mounsithiraj.

“I let the team know I was disappointed in our play (at halftime),” Mounsithiraj said. “The second half was a different story.”

Goshen (2-5, 0-2) scored early and often on the Panthers in the second period, beginning with sophomore Molly Kauffman’s unassisted score at the 53rd minute mark. Franklin was able to add a pair of scores at the 67th and 70th minutes off of a one on one move and a free kick, while Plank added two more scores at the 71st and 81st minute marks, giving her a career-high three scores for the game. Senior defender Ashley Clark even got in the mix late, after a sweet move on Davenport’s keeper left her with an open net to shoot into. Junior Alisa Hartzler finished things off at the 89th minute mark, taking a Greta Kauffman pass and placing it in the net from the left side of the box.

“It was a completely different team on the field in the second half,” Mounsithiraj said. “We were much more disciplined and in control with our possession and shots than we were in the first.”

Goshen’s nine scores were the most by a Maple Leaf squad since the 1998 season. Goshen will return to action Tuesday when the team travels to Manchester for a 4 p.m. match.

SEPT. 16 — Goshen Tests #19 Wesleyan In Tough Loss
Leafs' tremendous first half not enough to outlast Wildcats in 5-0 defeat

Goshen, IN — With a defensive game plan in place for Tuesday night’s match with 19th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan University, Goshen head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj knew it would take a monster effort from his team to compete with the undefeated Wildcats. For one half of play, he received just that.

Goshen (1-5, 0-2) put together a tremendous opening 45 minutes to shut down the vaunted Wesleyan attack, keeping a scoreless tie at halftime while frustrating the Indiana Wesleyan team and its fans in the process. The Leafs severely limited Wesleyan’s shots on goal in the first period and, while still playing on its end of the field, controlled possession of the ball for much of the half.

“Coming into the game we knew that the 19th-ranked team in the country can dominate a game with their speed of play and skill,” Mounsithiraj said. “I was extremely pleased with our game tonight, especially in the first half. We executed our defensive scheme extremely well by shutting down any quality chances for Indiana Wesleyan. Our leadership, discipline and communication were evident tonight as a number of players were asked to play in different positions due to the manner in which Indiana Wesleyan plays.”

Even with the defensive mindset, Goshen got two decent looks at Wesleyan’s goal in the first half. Such was the case again 10 minutes into the second period, but the Leafs’ offensive push turned out to be the reason for the Wildcats’ first score of the night. After a strong attack placed most of Goshen’s players in front of the Wesleyan goal, a long defender clear out led to a fastbreak opportunity for the Wildcats, and senior Ashley Clark was called for a foul inside the 18-yard box resulting in a penalty kick for Wesleyan. The Wildcats took advantage and scored the PK, causing Goshen to play catch-up. Forced to abandon its defensive plan, Goshen opened itself up to Wesleyan’s scoring capabilities — the Wildcats tacked on four additional goals over the next 20 minutes of play.

“With a high quality team like IWU, any little mistakes you make are turned into scoring chances,” Mounsithiraj said. “We were not able to maintain our intensity as their speed just wore us down in the second half. All five goals were well earned.”

Despite the loss, Mounsithiraj said he hopes his team will learn from its strong play and put that knowledge to use in future matches. The Leafs will return to the Goshen Soccer Complex Thursday night, when the team will host Davenport University. Match time is slated for 5 p.m. The men’s squad will face Davenport immediately following the women’s contest.

SEPT. 10 — Leafs Record First Win Of Season At Adrian
Squad unleashes season-high 25 shots on goal in 1-0 win

Senior Tera Franklin

Adrian, MI — After a slow start to its season, the Goshen women’s soccer team captured its first win of 2003 Wednesday, taking a 1-0 decision over host Adrian College. The Leafs unloaded a season-high 25 shots on goal to propel themselves past the winless Bulldogs, pleasing head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj.

“It was a good win for us after less than satisfactory outings in our first four matches,” the coach said. “Adrian is a very physical and aggressive team. All of their players can strike the ball very well from any distance. Our defense did an outstanding job containing Adrian’s offense with patience and timely challenging their attacks.”

Goshen (1-4, 0-1) was able to strike on the offensive end of things relatively early in the match, when senior Tera Franklin took classmate Greta Kauffman’s pass and drilled a shot over the keeper’s head from 25 yards away at the 32nd minute mark. Although this was the only Leaf score of the night, the squad had several great looks within its 25 shots — Franklin had another great look on a set play later in the first half, while sophomore Tara Plank had three one on one opportunities in the second half. Each time, Adrian’s keeper was able to stave off the attack.

“Our two center halfbacks, Tera Franklin and (sophomore) Molly Kauffman, were given specific instructions to shoot the ball anytime they were within 25 yards of the goal,” Mounsithiraj said. “Our offense looked good tonight. Tera Franklin had a number of good shots, and Tara Plank had three quality chances at the goal late. Each time we were able to start our offense with a pass from one of our halfbacks to our striker.”

Mounsithiraj was also pleased with his defensive team, as the back five fended off 14 Bulldog shots on goal, including a busy day with the physical front line of Adrian.

“Adrian had two strong and very skillful outside halfs who were giving us fits all afternoon long,” Mounsithiraj said. “Our defense of (seniors) Ashley Clark, Miriam Miller, Leah Rayl, (junior) Megan Morris and (freshman) Hannah Eash did a great job. Ashley did an outstanding job of sweeping any loose ball behind our defenders. Hannah continued to make productive runs up front from her stopper position to support our attack with her long ball. Overall, it was a good win, but we are still have room to improve and establish our scheme of play.”

Goshen will next face-off against 22nd-ranked Indiana Wesleyan at home on Tuesday. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.

SEPT. 6-7 — Goshen Comes Up Empty At Tournament
Leafs get offense on track, can't find a win at Capital Tri-State Classic

Senior Greta Kauffman Freshman Hannah Eash

Columbus, OH — A weekend full of soccer could not yield a win for Goshen, as the Leafs dropped a pair of contests in the Capital University Tri-State Classic on Saturday and Sunday. Goshen opened with a 3-0 loss to the host school and the fell to Transylvania University (KY) in the consolation match by a 4-2 count.

“This weekend we continued to gain experience and learn,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We made some changes in our lineup that helped, but we still need to take better care of the ball. We made poor passes over the weekend and our first touches on the ball were poor as well. Ninety percent of the game is about possession. We have to do a better job of taking care of the ball.”

The Leafs (0-4, 0-1) opened with the 3-0 loss to the host Crusaders after giving up a hearty 40 shots on goal, compared to their own three attempts. Goshen trailed just 1-0 at the half, but Capital poured in two more goals in the second half, with one coming at the 60th minute mark and the other coming with just two minutes remaining. Junior Megan Morris recorded 16 saves on the afternoon despite missing nearly seven minutes of the first half after being kicked in the head. Senior Tera Franklin filled in for Morris during that stretch.

“Capital did a tremendous job controlling the ball right from the beginning whistle,” Mounsithiraj. “They were not an especially skilled team, but they were well coached and disciplined with fundamentals. It looked like we were not ready to play. Megan Morris was pretty busy in goal, doing an excellent job keeping the scoring chances down.”

In the consolation game, Goshen was able to increase its offensive firepower, as Mounsithiraj made several positional changes to the lineup. A four-player postion change allowed the Leafs better looks at the goal, as the squad found itself tied with Transylvania 2-2 after one half.

At the 15th minute mark, senior Greta Kauffman received a cross from sophomore Tara Plank and finished it off with a volley into the net. Thirteen minutes later, freshman Hannah Eash scored her first goal as a collegian, with Kauffman providing the assist.

The Leafs could not match the Pioneers’ two second half scores, however, as Transylvania scored at the 72nd and 76th minute marks to seal the game.

“In our second match, we made some key changes on our offense to generate more chances,” Mounsithiraj said. “The move proved to be productive as we were able to score twice in the first period. We also made some adjustments to our defense, and even though we gave up four goals, I believe we are on the right track. We continue to improve defensively, and we are patient with our defensive scheme. We just weren’t able to maintain our momentum into the second half.”

Morris returned to the lineup against Transylania, despite the severe swelling of her face. She recorded 15 saves in the consolation game.

Capital won the tournament, defeating Walsh University (OH) 1-0 in the championship. Walsh defeated Transylvania 2-0 in the other semifinal match.

Goshen will next travel to Adrian College. Match time is slated for a 3 p.m. start on Wednesday.

SEPT. 2 — Leafs Struggle With Possession, Fall To Bethel 3-1
Pilots keep ball on Goshen's end of field for majority of game

Mishawaka, IN — Dominating possession of the ball for much of Tuesday night’s Mid-Central Conference match, the host Bethel College Pilots defeated Goshen by a 3-1 count in front of a rowdy student-body crowd. Bethel attempted 14 shots on goal to Goshen’s four on the evening and also belted out 11 corner kicks to the Leafs’ four, making the final outcome somewhat arithmetic.

“We certainly have much room to improve, including our conditioning,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We got wore down a bit, and that hurt us in the second half.”

Goshen (0-2, 0-1) was able to stay close thanks to a solid first half of play, after which the Leafs only found themselves down 2-1. Sophomore Tara Plank received a through ball from senior Greta Kauffman at the 43rd minute mark and scored a nifty one-on-one goal with two minutes remaining in the period.

“Tara Plank scored a fantastic goal after receiving a great pass from Greta toward the end of the half,” Mounsithiraj said. “That goal is indicative of what type of offense this team can generate. We had an extremely good first half, with both Greta and (senior) Tera Franklin making plays for us in the middle.”

As the second half began, however, Goshen began to suffer at various positions. Senior Miriam Miller and sophomore Molly Kauffman both exited the game due to injury, while Tera Franklin played the entire game with flu-like symptoms. In the end, Bethel’s attack was too much to overcome.

Junior Megan Morris again had a busy, yet splendid day in goal, saving 11 shots on the evening while barking out orders to the Leaf defenders. Mounsithiraj also gave high praise to both Molly Kauffman and senior Ahsley Clark for defending Bethel’s top scorer.

“Our group and individual defense was solid,” Mounsithiraj said. “Megan Morris had a typical game, keeping us in it with some really tough saves. Ashley Clark and Molly Kauffman did a fantastic job defending one of the best forwards in the conference. I am pleased with our first half result. We just have to put two halves together.”

Goshen will travel to Columbus, Ohio for the Capital Tri-State Classic at Capital University this weekend. Goshen will first face off against the host school Saturday at 11 a.m. (CT). Depending on the outcome of that game, the Leafs will play at either 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. on Sunday in the championship or consolation game of the tournament.

AUG. 30 — Cornerstone Out-Executes Goshen In Season Opener
Leafs find offense tough to come by; drop 5-0 affair to Golden Eagles

Goshen, IN — It was a tough home opener for the Leafs Saturday, as the Cornerstone University Golden Eagles came to the Goshen College Soccer Complex and consumed possession of the ball for much of the game en route to a 5-0 win. Goshen found itself defending its half of the field often, as the Golden Eagles pummeled the Leafs with 14 shots on goal and 11 corner kicks.

“Cornerstone used a well-rounded possession game to dominate us the entire game,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Our inexperience in some spots was very evident tonight. Cornerstone recognized that and took full advantage.”

The Leafs (0-1, 0-0) could only find one shot on goal for the match to go along with one corner kick, placing the burden on their defense throughout. Junior goalkeeper Megan Morris had a busy day in goal, saving eight of the Eagles 14 attempts.

“Megan Morris made many close saves during both halves,” Mounsithiraj said. “Some of her saves were just incredible. As a team, we played hard and our effort was noteworthy. We just failed to execute.”

Goshen has just one day to prepare for its first Mid Central Conference match of the season. The Leafs will travel to rival Bethel for a 7 p.m. start Tuesday night.