OCT. 25 — Leafs One Of Few Teams To End On A Win
Team takes advantage of rare scheduling and ends year with 2-0 win over TSU

Goshen, IN — Under average circumstances, all but one collegiate women’s soccer team concludes its season with a loss. Usually only the national champion can boast of winning its last game.

Make that the national champion and the Goshen College Maple Leafs.

With a rare scheduling quirk giving Goshen its senior night and final game of the season just two days after its first round Mid-Central Conference Tournament match (a 5-0 loss to Indiana Wesleyan University), the Leafs took advantage in a 2-0 win over Tri-State University Monday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. The Leafs used the night to honor seniors Alisa Hartzler, Megan Morris and Kiara Wagoner, all of which saw plenty of action in the win.

“Our seniors gave us some very quality minutes tonight, and it was great to see them get a win in the final game of their soccer careers at Goshen College,” said Thavisith Mounsithhiraj, Goshen head coach. “It certainly has been a blessing to have been associated with Kiara, Megan and Alisa. I wish them the best in all their future endeavors.”

Goshen (6-11-1, 1-6-1) honored the three senior members with a brief ceremony at halftime, but that didn’t appear to do much to motivate the squad in the time prior: The Leafs came out sluggish at the game’s outset, and found themselves in a struggle with the 2-13-1 Thunder.

“Once again we came out very flat and had to work our way into the game,” Mounsithiraj said. “We struggled with passing and moved poorly without the ball tonight. We were standing back and waiting for something to happen instead of making it happen. At times we were able to string together a couple of good combinations in the middle of the field which led to our first goal with four minutes left in the first half.”

Freshman Lucy Roth was the beneficiary of a Tara Plank (junior) pass in the 41st minute, pushing up and placing a nice shot in the Thunder’s net with just under four minutes remaining in the period.

“Lucy had another good game tonight creating runs and making good decisions,” Mounsithiraj said. “Her goal came directly off her run from the back. She knew where she needed to be to have that goal and was able to finish with a nice shot.”

Goshen would score again at the 62nd minute, when Plank took classmate Molly Kauffman’s pass and placed a nice shot past the keeper. The score would be enough, as Morris anchored a defensive unit that thwarted a late Tri-State push, notching a couple diving saves in helping her to six for the night.

“It was an ugly win for us, but it feels good to end our season with a win,” Mounsithiraj said. “With the end of the season here we realize where we have to be in order to compete at this level and in this conference. Our next season starts in two weeks. We have a number of areas of concern, but we know what we have to do to improve both as a team and individually.”

Mounsithiraj said that despite posting the program’s best record in the last four years in 2004, recruiting and off-season player development are major keys for continual improvement.

“One of the key emphases for next season will be to consistently play with confidence which can only come from mastering the little things that make such a big impact on the game,” Mounsithiraj said. “We are expecting to bring in several good recruits who we hope can come in right away and make a difference, and I was very impressed with our freshman this year. They were able to come in and step up immediately. This class definitely has the ability and the desire to be very successful. They certainly set the standard of what we are looking for in our recruiting.”

Check back to this site for the most up to date recruiting information and team news, including post-season banquet announcements and awards recognition.

OCT. 23 — Goshen Falls In First Round To Indiana Wesleyan
Wildcats dominate second half in 5-0 win; Leafs still with one game remaining

Sophomore Hannah Eash

Marion, IN — After securing the eighth seed in the nine-team Mid-Central Conference last week, the Goshen College women’s soccer team’s reward was a trip to number one seeded Indiana Wesleyan University for a first round MCC Tournament match up. After a solid first half effort kept the game scoreless for much of the initial period, Goshen was unable to continue its high level of play, losing by a 5-0 score to the Wildcats.

“Obviously IWU is the team to beat in the conference tournament,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “They are a very skilled team with lots of depth. We did what we could to keep up with them in the first half, but they wore us down as the game went on.”

Goshen (5-11-1, 1-6-1) maintained the scoreless tie until the 30th minute, when Wesleyan got on the board with a nice goal from inside the penalty box. The Wildcats scored again on a rebound goal in the 35th minute, and just like that the Leafs were down 2-0 at the half.
Goshen had one quality shot on goal in the first period, but junior Tara Plank was unable to connect. Mounsithiraj’s team had an uphill battle from the outset, being outshot by a 27 to four count on the night.

“I was pleased with our first half of play,” Mounsithiraj said. “We managed to get one quality look at the goal in the first half but our striker was unable to finish. Their possession was so well organized and it was very hard to defend them. They do not mess around with the ball. They move it with speed, precision and accuracy. I did not feel like we gave the first two goals away at all. I thought they were well deserved goals.”

Wesleyan got right back to work at the start of the second half, when a Wildcat corner kick allowed the team to notch a header into the back of the Leafs’ net. The host team was at it again just a minute later, and the rout was on: Wesleyan recorded one more score with just two minutes remaining to make the final 5-0.

Mounsithiraj said he was pleased with the play of sophomore Hannah Eash, who directed the team’s defensive effort from her sweeper position. Senior Megan Morris finished with 11 saves in goal during a busy night.

“In the second half they were able to get on the scoreboard just ten minutes in, which kind of took the wind out of us,” Mounsithiraj said. “From there they were able to get two more insurance goals. I was disappointed in our second half play because I know this team has the potential to compete well against good teams. We played very timidly throughout the game. With a team like IWU they will see that and use it to their advantage. We have one final game to finish up our season at home on Monday. It could be a good game for us to finish with at home.”

A rare scheduling twist has the Leafs in action again Monday night, despite their season concluding in conference tournament play Saturday. Goshen will host Tri-State University at 5 p.m. Monday. Goshen’s seniors will be honored at halftime of the contest.

OCT. 21 — Goshen To Face #1 Seed Indiana Wesleyan
MCC Tournament brackets announced; Leafs to face IWU Saturday

Indianapolis, IN — The Goshen College women’s soccer team will face number one seed Indiana Wesleyan University in the first round of the Mid-Central Conference Tournament this Saturday, league officials announced today.

Goshen finished the MCC season with a league record of 1-6-1, good for eighth place in the conference. Wednesday night’s Marian College-Grace College finalized the Leafs’ position, as Marian dealt Grace a 4-2 defeat in Indianapolis last night. Marian, with a conference mark of 2-6, became the seventh seed, while Grace (1-7) was bumped from post-season play as the ninth-seeded team (see related story below).

Goshen will travel to Indiana Wesleyan Saturday for a 7 p.m. kick off. Other first round match ups include Marian at Spring Arbor University (12 noon), Huntington College at Bethel College (12 noon) and the University of St. Francis at Taylor University (2 p.m.).

OCT. 19 — MCC Tournament Play-In Game Nixed
Conference coaches vote out game that would pit #8 vs. #9; Leafs affected

Marion, IN — The Goshen College athletic department received information that the 2004 Mid-Central Conference women’s soccer tournament play-in game has been eliminated, league officials said Tuesday. The match — scheduled for this Thursday evening — was supposed to pit the eighth-seeded league team against the ninth-seeded league team. The winner of that match would then advance to play the conference’s top seeded squad on Saturday, in first-round MCC Tournament action.

The advent of such a game came with the addition of Spring Arbor University to the conference this academic year, giving the MCC a total of nine teams.

According to league officials, the MCC women’s soccer head coaches voted to do away with this contest, despite its presence in the 2004-2005 Mid-Central Conference Manual. Under the new format, the number nine seeded squad will not participate in post-season play at all, with the number eight seeded team facing the number one seed Saturday.

“We support whatever decision the league coaches have made regarding this matter,” said Ken Pletcher, Goshen College athletic director. “While this is obviously an unfortunate decision in regards to our team this season, we trust that the conference coaches have made the decision with the best interest of all teams, athletes and fans in mind.”

This amendment affects the Goshen College women’s soccer team, as the squad had a high likelihood of hosting the play-in game this Thursday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Instead, the team will wait to see where it finishes in league standings, as other conference teams conclude league play as late as Wednesday night this week. It is a mathematical possibility that the Leafs could finish as the number nine seed, and would not compete in post-season play.

Further details about Goshen’s post-season schedule and information will be posted at this site as they become known.

OCT. 16 — Goshen Gets Enormous MCC Win Over Huntington
Leafs stay poised to take dramatic 1-0 win in double-overtime

Closing: Freshman Claire Lagerwey takes an angle at a Huntington forward Saturday night.

Catching up: Freshman Kelly Schenk chases down a long pass in first half action.

Goshen, IN — Bitter winds and temperatures in the lower 30s made for less-than-ideal conditions in Saturday night’s Mid-Central Conference match up with Huntington College at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. By the end of the match, the conditions were even colder.

The Goshen College women’s soccer team didn’t even feel it.

A dramatic, made-for-television, 1-0 double-overtime win over the Foresters made the conditions feel ideal for the Leafs, as senior Kiara Wagoner headed in the contest’s lone goal with 3:14 remaining in the second overtime stanza to give Goshen its first MCC win of the season. The win also gives Goshen a good chance of hosting a first-round MCC Tournament game, pending the outcome of another league match this week.

“This was a huge win for us,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Huntington is a huge surprise in the conference this year. They are much improved from a year ago. They have been scoring goals against good teams, and we were able to hold them scoreless tonight. Tonight we showed up to play. This is how we are capable of playing week in and week out. We can compete with good teams, now we just need to do this consistently. This has been a very long week for us with two long road trips and three matches. I am very pleased with our effort and composure tonight after this week.”

Goshen (5-10-1, 1-6-1) fought all night long against Huntington’s improved attack, as the Foresters ended the night with a 23-12 advantage in shots taken. After the first half ended with a scoreless tie, it looked like Huntington would be the first to put a point on the board in the second half. With 17 minutes to play, the Foresters had a nice look at Goshen’s goal, only for the shot to hit the crossbar. A Huntington forward was able to collect the rebound, but senior goalkeeper Megan Morris was able to make a big save on the follow up shot, one of 17 total saves for the night.

“Defensively we did an extraordinary job on denying them a goal,” Mounsithiraj said. “Megan Morris had a strong game in the goal and (sophomore) Hannah Eash again directed our defense with poise and confidence. (Freshman) Lucy Roth, (sophomore) Mary Jo Martin, and (freshman) Sara Groff continue to step up against opposing teams’ attack.”

After an initial overtime that saw neither team mount much of a scoring thrust, Goshen made the most of its opportunity in the second extra period. With just over three minutes remaining, Groff was able to pick off a Forester pass just outside of midfield. After using a dribble, she sent a long ball down the far side of the field to a streaking Tara Plank (junior). Plank used one touch before sending a high, lofting ball toward the corner of the goal, and it appeared Huntington’s keeper would corral an easy save.

Cue Wagoner. The senior captain sprinted down the middle of the field to head Plank’s ball just before making contact with the Forester keeper, knocking the ball into an empty net and causing a mad rush of the field by her teammates.

“Kiara Wagoner had the best game of her career at Goshen College,” Mounsithiraj said. “Aside from her goal, she was constantly attacking with her dribbling, making runs and creating passes. Her hard work really paid off at the end of the game with a beautiful goal. I am extremely proud of Kiara’s effort and performance tonight. She had an absolutely great game.”

The Leafs now have the opportunity to host the MCC Tournament’s play-in game, as the eighth- and ninth-seeded squads will face off to get a chance to play the league’s top team in first-round action. With an MCC record of 1-6-1, Goshen would host either Grace College (1-6) or Marian College (1-6) should either of those teams lose in the squads’ match up at Marian this Wednesday. The only situation that would prohibit a Goshen host would be if Marian and Grace tie Wednesday afternoon. That match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.

It is certain that Goshen will take place in the MCC play-in match this Thursday night, regardless of the Grace-Marian outcome. Match time, place and opponent will be determined following Wednesday night’s Lancer-Knight result. Check back to this website for the most up to date information regarding the Leafs’ postseason details.

OCT. 14 — Leafs Blast Rochester, 4-0
Team dominates Warriors despite incosistent play; large MCC match looms

Junior Tara Plank Freshman Lucy Roth

Rochester Hills, MI — In what has been an up and down season thus far for the Goshen College women’s soccer team, the Leafs experienced a rare high off a low Thursday night, defeating host Rochester College by a 4-0 count. Just two days after playing well at 21st-ranked Spring Arbor University and losing, Goshen collected a win over Rochester despite not playing its best soccer.

“It felt good to get a win tonight, but we continue with our inconsistency to play well,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We came out flat, which I feared would happen after a five-hour drive. Fortunately, we were able to capitalize off our set plays and were able to settle down a bit in the second half, which helped us to the win.”

Goshen (4-10-1, 0-6-1) found the going difficult up until the 37th minute mark, when freshman Lucy Roth was able to collect a ball that reflected out to her midfield position after a Leaf corner kick — one of four on the night — and placed a shot in the lower left corner of the net. Mounsithiraj’s team got more action off of corner kicks in the 51st minute, when freshman Claire Lagerwey’s placed boot found junior Molly Kauffman in the box, and Kauffman headed the ball into the net to take a 2-0 lead into halftime.

“We did not pass very well in the first half,” Mounsithiraj said. “We passed better in the second half, although our first touch continued to hurt us. At halftime we talked about shortening up our passes and playing more to feet rather than space.”

Junior Tara Plank made the most of two of the better Leaf passes in the second half, as in the 83rd minute she scored off a through ball from senior Kiara Wagoner and just two minutes later scored off a nifty feed from sophomore Elizabeth Martin. On both shots she was able to beat the Rochester keeper with some crafty footwork, making the final 4-0.

Goshen returns to its home field Saturday, with a large Mid-Central Conference match up with Huntington College looming. Despite being winless in league play, Goshen could host a first-round MCC Tournament match if they beat the Foresters on Saturday. That match is the final regular-season MCC contest of the year for Goshen. Kick off is slated for 7 p.m.

OCT. 12 — Goshen Puts Up Fight At #21 Spring Arbor
Leafs come with better effort, execution on road following disappointing weekend

Sophomore Hannah Eash Freshman Lucy Roth

Spring Arbor, MI — After the Goshen College women’s soccer team’s dismal effort in a 3-0 loss to Marian College on Saturday left head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj with a bad taste in his mouth, his squad’s effort on Tuesday night helped cleanse it. Goshen played better, more composed soccer in dropping a 2-0 decision to 21st-ranked Spring Arbor University, a team competing for the Mid-Central Conference Championship in just its first year in the league.

“Spring Arbor is a skilled team with speed and the ability to penetrate off the dribble which created problems for us tonight,” Mounsithiraj said. “However, we covered each other well. Both of their goals were created off of dribble penetration. I thought Spring Arbor would come out and overwhelm us, but we stayed composed and defended well throughout the game.”

Goshen (3-10-1, 0-6-1) kept things even for the majority of the first half against the 10-1-3 Cougars, notching two early shots on goal to even surprise the host team a bit. Spring Arbor was able to crack into the scoring column at the 33rd minute, however, when skilled dribble moves created a one on one situation with senior keeper Megan Morris. While Morris finished with 17 saves on the night, Spring Arbor was able to record 31 shots on goal.

Following a 1-0 lead at the half, the Cougars were able to score their second goal just nine minutes into the second period. Goshen played solid defense for the remainder, however, and showed signs of progression according to Mounsithiraj.

“I saw some nice things in the middle tonight,” he said. “We created some nice combination play in the middle third of the field. We were able to string together some passes and move the ball against a talented team. We have struggled to play well on the road this season, but today I felt we came out ready to play. This was definitely not the same team that showed up last Saturday against Marian. We kept composure and did not let this game get out of control against a very good team who is in the mix for the conference championship.”

Mounsithiraj gave credit to his defensive group of Morris, sophomores Hannah Eash and Mary Jo Martin and freshmen Sara Groff and Lucy Roth for outstanding play. Goshen was without freshman Kelsey Hartman, who may have torn her right ACL in the match against Marian. It is improbable that she will return to action this season. Complete details of the injury will be posted as they become known.

The Leafs will next travel to Rochester College for an out-of-conference match up on Thursday. Match time is slated for 4 p.m.

OCT. 6 — Leafs Fail To Show Up Against Marian
Goshen drops 3-0 match with poor play; Hartman suffers injury

Sending: Junior Tara Plank passes the ball upfield in second half action against Marian.

The turnaround: Senior Kiara Wagoner evades a Marian defender Saturday afternoon.

Goshen, IN — About the only thing that went right for the Goshen College women’s soccer team on Saturday was the weather.

And then even that got cold.

Playing one of its poorest matches of the season according to head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj, the Leafs dropped a 3-0 decision to Mid-Central Conference foe Marian College just three days after playing well and holding defending MCC Champion University of St. Francis to a 0-0 draw. To make matters worse, the squad likely lost freshman midfielder Kelsey Hartman to a season-ending ACL tear.

“I’m about 80 percent sure that her right ACL is torn,” said Bill Kinsey, Goshen head athletic trainer. “Until the swelling decreases it can’t be diagnosed with complete certainty, but all my experiences would lead me to believe that it is torn.”

Hartman had been playing quality minutes for the Leafs in recent weeks, and her injury occurred in the midst of some of those minutes: While fighting for a loose ball near the Goshen sideline, Hartman planted and turned. Her knee bent awkwardly, and she fell to the ground.

“Kelsey’s injury is a big loss for us,” a saddened Mounsithiraj said following the game. “She has really been a bright spot for us in recent weeks. She was really beginning to mature and become a solid player that was able to give us much needed quality minutes. Her presence on the field will be missed if she is not able to return this season.”

And as with Hartman’s injury, little else pleased Mounsithiraj during the day’s match. Marian scored right before halftime to make it a 1-0 lead, and added an insurance goal at the 73rd minute mark. Goshen helped the Knights with an own goal in the 82nd minute, after a Leaf headed ball bounced the wrong direction into Goshen’s net.

“Today was a very disappointing day for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “As hard as we played Wednesday night (against St. Francis), we were completely at the other end of the spectrum tonight. We failed to create chances for ourselves today. Our play was very poor. The next step for us is to be able to compete consistently day in and day out. Right now we are struggling to do that. We were not the team today that we have been of recent. Marian outplayed us the entire game. They were physical and aggressive and we let them take us out of our game. We focused on good first touches and short passes through the middle during practices all week but it did not show in our play.”

Marian outshot the Leafs by a 22 to three count, and dominated possession for the majority of the game. Mounsithiraj was pleased with sophomore Mary Jo Martin and freshman Lucy Roth’s efforts, however — in the 18th minute Martin was able to save a Knight score by holding her ground near the post on a corner kick while Roth also had a goal line save by sticking with her attacking player after a Marian shot hit the crossbar. Marian’s forward was able to collect the ball at point blank range, but Roth was able to keep the ball out of goal.

“We just have to take this game and learn from our mistakes,” Mounsithiraj said. “With only two conference games remaining before our tournament it is important that we get a win. We will have to stay mentally focused this week and play with the heart and desire I know we are capable of playing with.”

Goshen will travel to first-year MCC opponent Spring Arbor University on Tuesday. Match time is slated for a 3 p.m. (Indiana time) kick off. Hartman’s status will be updated on this site as it becomes known.

OCT. 6 — Goshen Fights St. Francis To 0-0 Tie
Leafs put together solid defensive game plan that thwarts 2003 MCC Champions

Not tonight: Junior Molly Kauffman, freshman Kelsey Hartman and junior Tara Plank line up to defend a direct free kick in second half action Wednesday night.

Keepaway: Freshman Kelsey Hartman turns on a ball in second period play against St. Francis.

Goshen, IN — While a tie is generally not regarded as the most desirable outcome in athletics, Wednesday night’s 0-0 double overtime finish against the University of St. Francis Cougars spoke volumes about the Goshen College women’s soccer team. St. Francis, the defending 2003 Mid-Central Conference champion, came into Goshen with a 7-3-3 record and had been ranked as high as 25th in the country this season. The Cougars had already tied 15th-ranked Siena Heights University earlier in the year, while Goshen (3-8-1, 0-4-1) came into the game looking for its first league win.

Chalk up this tie as pleasing for Goshen head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj.

“I am very satisfied with our play tonight,” Mounsithiraj said. “We still have a lot of things to work on, but any time you can keep St. Francis scoreless it shows that we are headed in the right direction. We really stepped up in the second half and played with intensity, heart and desire. As a team we are beginning to understand the concepts we are trying to teach. We are beginning to see the big picture.”

Though dominated statistically — St. Francis attempted 37 shots on goal to Goshen’s two and had 17 corner kicks to the Leafs’ none — Goshen refused to allow the Cougars a goal. After a first half saw Goshen escape with a scoreless tie — Mounsithiraj said his team “struggled with possession” for much of the first 45 minutes — the Leafs gained momentum as the game wore on. Most notably, however, was Goshen’s defense on an unrelenting Cougar attack.

“In the first half we struggled with possession, and our first touches again hurt us,” Mounsithiraj said. “Our defensive unit stayed mentally tough, though, and we were able to fend off many of St. Francis’ attacks. St. Francis is clearly a very good team, and will be a contender for the conference championship again this year. They had many chances, and fortunately we were able to defend well.”

Senior Megan Morris anchored a Leaf defense with 12 saves in goal, including several hard kicked, would-be goals. Sophomore Mary Jo Martin had what might have been the save of the night, however, when she headed off a shot while standing in goal that would have given St. Francis an early 1-0 lead.

“Megan was outstanding tonight in goal for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “Mary Jo also played extremely tough against a very fast attacker in addition to heading that shot on goal out of harm’s way. (Freshman) Lucy Roth played very physically and won many balls out of the air, and (sophomore) Hannah (Eash) continued to make the right decisions while directing our defensive unit. (Freshman) Kelsey Hartman gave us quality minutes off the bench tonight. She is really beginning to develop into a strong outside midfielder. We were able to stay mentally tough throughout the game, as mental letdowns have cost us a few games this year. Before the game tonight we talked about those let downs and discussed the importance of staying mentally tough. Though St. Francis controlled possession much of the game, we were able to stay focused. That’s a big reason why we were able to finish with a shutout.”

Goshen will hope to continue its solid level of play this Saturday, when MCC foe Marian College will visit the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Match time is slated for 2 p.m.

OCT. 2 — Squad Not Ready To Play At Indiana Wesleyan
Host Wildcats score two goals in game's first four minutes en route to 6-0 win

Senior Kiara Wagoner Freshman Kelsey Hartman

Marion, IN — Things started off poorly for the Goshen College women’s soccer team on Saturday and only got worse as the afternoon progressed, as the Leafs dropped an 0-6 decision to Mid-Central Conference foe Indiana Wesleyan. Wesleyan scored goals in the game’s second and fourth minute marks to take an early 2-0 lead, closing the door on Goshen (3-8, 0-4) at the outset.

“We did not come out focused and gave up two goals in the first four minutes,” said Thavisith Mousithiraj, Goshen head coach. “It is very tough psychologically to come back after doing that.”

Indiana Wesleyan used a dominating possession game — 27 shots on goal for the Wildcats compared to one for the Leafs — and team speed to generate a game-long attack, as Goshen could never find a serious push to create scoring chances. Making things worse for Mounsithiraj’s squad was the absence of freshman stopper Sara Groff, who missed the game due to a prior commitment.

“The one on one battles were tough for us at every position today,” Mounsithiraj said. “IWU is a very solid team, and they did not give us the opportunity to establish our play. Without Sara Groff in the lineup, we had to move several people around. Her absence threw us off a bit. Still, we came out timid and backed down from a lot of balls. IWU plays an extremely physical style of soccer, and we did not match that.”

Mounsithiraj gave credit to senior Kiara Wagoner and freshman Kelsey Hartman in the loss.

“Kiara played well today,” he said. “She is seeing the field very well and looking to move the ball into the open space. Kelsey played well starting in place of Sara Groff. She had a strong defensive game and was able to slow down the IWU attack from the outside a bit. I continue to see improvement in our ball movement in the middle of the field. We are seeing the field well and are beginning to move the ball with better speed. This is a very important week for us now as we prepare for two home MCC matches.”

Goshen will next host the University of St. Francis on Wednesday night. Game time is set for 7 p.m.

SEPT. 28 — Goshen Drops Heartbreaker To Bethel
Pilots score with just three minutes remaining in OT to take 2-1 decision

Closing: Junior Molly Kauffman pursues a ball during first half action Tuesday.

The boot: Freshman Sara Groff takes a free kick during the second half against Bethel.

Goshen, IN — After playing well, having an opponent score a goal to tie a game with three minutes remaining in regulation is tough to handle. Having the same opponent score the game-winning goal with three minutes remaining in overtime is heartbreaking.

Unfortunately for the Goshen College women’s soccer team, such was exactly the case Tuesday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex, as neighboring Mid-Central Conference rival Bethel College was able to upend the Leafs by a 2-1 score in overtime. Playing its best overall game of the season, Goshen (3-7, 0-3) had controlled the tempo of the game throughout — junior Tara Plank was able to score at the 55th minute mark on a through ball from freshman Claire Lagerwey. Plank took the pass, advanced the ball upfield and buried a shot into the top of the Pilots’ net, ending what had been a fairly stagnant game until that point.

Despite being outshot by a 24 to 13 count, the Leafs continued to thwart Bethel’s attempts as the clock wound down — senior goalkeeper Megan Morris had a tremendous day in goal, saving 13 Pilot attempts, including several from point blank range.

That all held true until the 87th minute, when Bethel was able to cross a ball in front of the net and knock it in. Deflated, Goshen was able to maintain its effort through nearly all of the extra 10-minute period, until Bethel’s JoBette Nabarro was able to shake free for an unassisted score with just three minutes remaining on the clock.

“It is tough to lose a game in the last three minutes,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “I knew coming in to this game Bethel was a technically skilled team. They have a couple excellent players we knew we would have to shut down. I am so pleased with our defense. They continue to play well, again shutting down key players tonight. Offensively I think we are starting to understand each other better. We are making smart passes and playing with speed. Our midfielders are seeing the field much better. We have to keep our heads up and continue to compete at a level we are capable of playing.”

Goshen attempted as many corner kicks as Bethel — four — but had trouble at times handling Nabarro, who scored both the Pilots goals. Despite the letdowns, it was an overall tremendous performance, according to Mounsithiraj.

“This is our best game of the year, and I am especially pleased with our first 60 minutes of play,” Mounsithiraj said. “This is the type of game we are capable of playing. We played a good possession game, we won 50-50 balls, and we pressured the ball defensively to win the ball back. Now we have to believe we can play this way every game, and compete for the entire 90 minutes.”

Mounsithiraj noted the play of Morris, Plank, senior Kiara Wagoner and sophomore Hannah Eash as being especially outstanding on the evening.

“Megan Morris had a great game in goal, making several tough saves,” he said. “Tara Plank made several good runs up front. She needs to trust her instinct more like she did tonight — take on defenders and trust herself. Kiara did an extremely nice job of making the through pass to open players. She was able to see the field well and her distribution of the ball kept us in this game. Hannah Eash played well and kept the defense organized throughout the game.”

Goshen will return to the field Saturday, when they travel to Indiana Wesleyan. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

SEPT. 25 — Leafs Let Winnable Game Slip Away To Grace
Host Lancers make most of opportunities in 2-1 defeat of Goshen

Freshman Claire Lagerwey

Winona Lake, IN — A win in the ever-tough Mid-Central Conference was there for the taking Saturday afternoon for the Goshen College women’s soccer team. Unfortunately, it was the host Grace College Lancers who grabbed the opportunity.

After a highly competitive 75 minutes of soccer found the score knotted at 1-1, it was Grace that scored the game winner off an indirect free kick from just outside the penalty box, snapping a six-game losing streak of its own while keeping Goshen (3-6, 0-2) winless in league competition.

“It was a very winnable match for us today,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Once again, we allowed an opponent to have an easy, easy goal on us. We continue to have difficulty starting the match and allowing teams to establish their offense on us. This hurt us today.”

Grace was able to take control almost instantly, as the Lancers placed a rebound header into the net just four minutes into the contest. The score remained 1-0 through the majority of the game, until junior Tara Plank sent a nifty cross to freshman Claire Lagerwey at the 74th minute. Lagerwey volleyed Plank’s pass into the upper right corner of the net from about 15 yards out to tie the game at 1-1.

It was a short-lived tie, however, as Grace used its indirect free kick just three minutes later to make it a 2-1 game. Goshen could not get a quality look on goal in the game’s final 12 minutes, and the Lancers prevailed.

“We had some positives today, with one being how our offense is moving the ball better,” Mounsithiraj said. “The key for us Saturday was to control the midfield. (Junior) Molly Kauffman did an excellent job playing from 18 to 18. Claire Lagerwey has also been playing well, and her goal today resulted from good transition play from our halfbacks.”

Goshen will look to find its first MCC win of the year at home Tuesday, when arch rival Bethel College will visit the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.

SEPT. 22 — Goshen Can't Hang With Taylor
Leafs fall by 3-0 count; Mounsithiraj cites improved effort

Freshman Lucy Roth

Upland, IN — Competing in its first Mid-Central Conference match of the season Wednesday, the Goshen College women’s soccer team was defeated by Taylor University by a 3-0 score.

The Trojans used a physical brand of soccer to rush Goshen’s end of the field — Taylor attempted 33 shots on goal to Goshen’s two — and was able to grab the game’s first goal at the 32nd minute mark in the first half. The Trojans added two more goals in the second period — the first at the 12th minute and the second at the 19th minute — while Goshen (3-5, 0-1) was unable to make any serious push on the other end of the field.

“I was pleased with our effort today, but little things continue to hurt us,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Defensively we did not give them many quality looks at the goal. We are getting better every game. Physically and technically they were much stronger than us, which made the transition from defense to offense difficult for us. I feel our inexperience is becoming more and more evident as we play more experienced teams.”

Senior Megan Morris recorded 13 saves in goal, while Mounsithiraj praised the defensive unit of sophomores Hannah Eash and Mary Jo Martin and freshmen Sara Groff and Lucy Roth.

“Lucy had a tremendous game for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “She stepped up and played aggressively both defensively and offensively.”

Goshen will look to bounce back in the MCC when the team travels to Grace College on Saturday. Game time is set for 1 p.m.

SEPT. 18 — Leafs Take 'Sloppy' 3-0 Win At Concordia
Mounsithiraj not pleased following second defeat of Cardinals in six days

Freshman Claire Lagerwey Junior Molly Kauffman

Ann Arbor, MI — For Goshen head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj, the way the game is played is more important than the result. At least that was the case on Saturday, as a 3-0 win over Concordia University did not please the third-year head coach. Citing his team’s lack of drive, hearing Mounsithiraj speak following the match would lead one to believe Goshen was on the losing end.

“It was a sloppy win for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “I am not pleased with our effort of play today. We started out very flat and remained that way for most of the match. Our hesitation in our approach to play hurt us all day long. It was not a fun win or fun to watch. Concordia, despite being overmatched in our first match with them, played us hard all afternoon long. We simply did not show the desire or the intensity that we are capable of showing.”

Despite Mounsithiraj’s disappointment, it was Goshen (3-4, 0-0) that took care of business against the Cardinals, as freshman Claire Lagerway took a Lucy Roth pass at the 17th minute and buried a shot for a 1-0 lead. Junior Tara Plank made the score 2-0 at the 31st minute mark, nailing a shot off an assist from classmate Molly Kauffman. Kauffman finished the scoring at the 41st minute, scoring an unassisted goal just before the half.

Even with the 3-0 win, Goshen only outshot the Cardinals by a 9-7 count and were outdone in corner kicks by a 3-9 margin. Senior Megan Morris collected one save in goal before coming out of the lineup due to a minor injury; Roth then finished the game as keeper, collecting Goshen’s other save. The Leafs defeated Concordia by a 5-1 at the Goshen College Soccer Complex on Sept. 13.

The Leafs will compete in their first Mid-Central Conference match of the season on Wednesday, when the team travels to Taylor University. Game time is set for 4 p.m.

SEPT. 15 — Goshen Can't Hold On Against Manchester
Leafs lead for majority of contest; give up two goals late in 2-1 loss

Sliding save: Sophomore Mary Jo Martin keeps the ball in play — and off a Manchester defender’s leg — for a Goshen throw in during second half action Wednesday.

Marking: Senior Kiara Wagoner keeps a Spartan midfielder contained during second half play.

Goshen, IN — A solid 85 minutes of soccer wasn’t enough to defeat Manchester College Wednesday afternoon, as the visiting Spartans were able to score a pair of goals within five minutes to take down the Leafs by a 2-1 score. Goshen (2-4, 0-0) led by a 1-0 score until the 67th minute of play, when Manchester rifled in a shot from 25 yards away. Goshen then lost a Spartan forward just four minutes later, giving up the game-deciding goal at the 71st minute mark.

“I was pleased with our effort tonight, and it is too bad that we lost in this manner,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “We came out determined to score early and defend well, which we did. We gave up a couple of easy goals in the second half that cost us the game. Our team worked extremely hard, but it’s tough to feel really good about a loss.”

The Leafs came out of the gates aggressively, as junior Tara Plank took a nice through ball by senior Kiara Wagoner and blasted it into the back of the net at the seventh minute. Goshen then began working extremely hard defensively, led by sophomore Mary Jo Martin’s effort on Manchester’s leading scorer, Missy King.

It was not King that would eventually hurt Goshen, as the Spartan’s Allison Kesteloot took a loose ball and found the net right below the crossbar from 25 yards away at the 67th minute. Manchester’s Colleen Kay then beat a pair of Leaf defenders to a ball inside the box just four mintues later, leading to the team’s go-ahead score.

Aside from that five-minute stretch, Goshen played solidly, despite a 20-8 differential on shots taken.

“Defensively we were able to stay compact and not let them stretch us out like some teams had been doing,” Mounsithiraj said. “We did not let them play many through balls and did not allow them to make runs through the middle. We now have to be sure to never relax at any one point in the game. Five minutes changed the outcome tonight.”

Goshen will next travel to Concordia University to face the Cardinals for the second time in six days. The Leafs beat Concordia by a 5-1 score on Monday. The squad will travel to Michigan for a 1 p.m. contest on Saturday.

SEPT. 13 — Team Hammers Concordia By 5-1 Count
Leafs play inspired soccer after dismal first half performance

Turning the corner: Senior Kiara Wagoner gets past a Concordia defender in the second half of Monday’s contest.

Well done: Freshman Claire Lagerwey (left) is congratulated by sophomore Mary Jo Martin after scoring at the 74th minute against Concordia.

Goshen, IN — A poor first half of soccer couldn’t keep the Goshen College women’s squad from pummeling Concordia University Monday afternoon, as the Leafs turned in a strong second 45 minutes to take a 5-1 decision from the visiting Cardinals.

Goshen (2-3, 0-0) scored the game’s first goal at the 28th minute mark — junior Molly Kauffman drilled a shot after a pass from Claire Lagerwey — but the Leafs were not playing well. Despite outshooting the Cardinals by a 19 to one count in the period, Goshen could only manage one score against its overmatched opponent.

“We played very slow and with no urgency to begin the game,” said Tera Franklin, Goshen assistant coach. “At halftime we talked about moving the ball much quicker and towards the goal. We had been playing the ball from side to side entirely too much in the first half. We needed to attack toward Concordia’s goal quickly.”

In the second half, Goshen did just that. With a similar line in shots taken — the Leafs attempted 17 shots to the Cardinals’ one in the second half — the results were far better. Kauffman was able to knock in a Lagerwey corner kick at the 60th minute, while senior Kiara Wagoner drilled a rebound off the post into the net just seven minutes later. Lagerwey finally got into the scoring column after receiving a pass from Kauffman at the 74th minute and blasting a long ball into the top of the net, while junior Tara Plank finished things off in style after a nifty dribbling series gave her an open look from 20 yards straight out. Her blast found the top of the goal to complete the scoring.

Concordia was able to score its lone goal — and give Goshen a brief scare — to begin the second half. Just three minutes into the period the Cardinals were able to get a breakaway opportunity and slip a shot past senior keeper Megan Morris. Fortunately, Goshen’s offense awoke and the goal was minimal in effect.

All 17 available Leaf players appeared in the contest. Goshen’s five scores were the most the team has scored yet this season.

“We had much better ball movement in the second half and were able to create many scoring chances for ourselves,” Franklin said. “Our defenders played well today. They were able to get involved in our offense and gave us support from the back. I was pleased with the play of our subs. They came in and kept up the intensity and level of play. We had several good looks at the end of the game that we just didn’t convert.”

Goshen will return to its own soccer complex on Wednesday, when the team will host an always tough Manchester College squad. Game time is set for 4:30 p.m.

SEPT. 11 — Cornerstone Proves To Be Too Much For Leafs
Golden Eagles pound out 46 shots on goal en route to 6-0 win

Sophomore Mary Jo Martin

Grand Rapids, MI — Facing a quick and talented Cornerstone University team Saturday afternoon, Goshen suffered its most lopsided loss of the season to date, falling by a 6-0 score.
Cornerstone dominated play early and often against Goshen (1-3, 0-0) as the Leafs could not manage a shot on goal while the Golden Eagles reeled off an incredible 46 attempts on the Goshen end.

“Cornerstone is well coached and the best team we have played so far this year,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “They outplayed us both technically and tactically. They moved very well without the ball. Their speed and pace of play was very quick, and we had a very hard time marking up all day. They were simply more aggressive and physical than us in all aspects of the game, and they never allowed us to organize our offense or develop our play.”

After falling behind by an 0-3 count at the half, Mounsithiraj attempted to switch to a more defensive-minded lineup, placing a challenge on his team to see if it could hold such an offensive power house down. And, despite giving up three more scores, the Leafs improved in the second half. Sophomore Mary Jo Martin was assigned the task of defending Cornerstone scorer Melissa Strohmeier — she scored four of the Eagles six goals — and senior Megan Morris was able to deter 15 shots in goal, keeping the game respectable.

“I was pleased with Mary Jo’s effort in the second half,” Mounsithiraj said. “Strohmeier did not get nearly as many touches as she did in the first half. (Sophomore) Hannah Eash also played well defensively. I was pleased that we did not give up any goals on corner kicks or free kicks. We defended the set plays better today.”

Goshen will look to get back on the offensive on Monday, when Concorida University visits the Goshen College Soccer Complex. Match time is slated to begin at 4 p.m.

SEPT. 8 — Goshen Gives 2-1 Decision To Judson
Leafs score first, but can't hold on as Lady Eagles trickle in pair of scores

Pass ahead: Freshman Sara Groff sends a pass to junior Tara Plank in the first half of Wednesday’s game against Judson.

D-Line: Sophomore Hannah Eash clears a Judson attack early in Wednesday’s game.

Goshen, IN — All was well for the Goshen College women’s soccer team 16 minutes into Wednesday night’s game against visiting Judson College: The Leafs had a 1-0 lead and seemed to be in control of the game’s pace, thwarting nearly every Judson attempt to get the ball on Goshen’s half of the field.

A couple of odd plays would change all of that.

Judson took advantage of a rare Megan Morris (senior) botch in goal and used an unmarked forward to score a pair of no-frills goals over the contest’s next 17 minutes, eventually holding on to win by a 2-1 score.

“This was a tough loss to take because we played well tonight,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Judson is skillful both technically and individually. We played better as a team tonight, but some little things hurt us enough to beat us.”

Goshen (1-2, 0-0) got on the board first when junior Molly Kauffman rocketed her third score of the season off a nifty move to beat a Lady Eagle defender for a straightaway goal at the 16th minute mark. Just a minute later, however, it was Judson that scored on a gimme — the normally sure-handed Morris misjudged a low, rolling ball into the box, and the Lady Eagles had tied the game at the 17th minute.

Again Goshen collected its collective poise, regaining possession of the ball and having several good looks at Judson’s goal. At the 34th minute, it was the Lady Eagles that converted another score on a Leaf miscue — Goshen lost a Judson forward during a corner kick, and the Eagles were able to punch in a score without a Leaf defender to deter them. After a second half was filled with exchanging possessions and no real attempts on goal for either side, the 2-1 score withheld.

“Molly Kauffman had another strong game for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “She played with intensity and worked hard all night. (Sophomore) Hannah Eash did a fine job of leading our defensive charge tonight. She made many smart decisions with the ball. As a team, though, we’ve got to get better with things such as passing, attacking the ball instead of waiting for it and giving up easy goals. We will go back to our training and continue to improve in those areas.”

Goshen will not have an extended period to train, as the team will face off against Cornerstone University on Saturday. Match time is set for 12 noon.

SEPT. 4 — Leafs Come Alive In Second Half Against Bluffton
Goshen opens home season with 3-1 win over Beavers

Good day: Senior goalkeeper Megan Morris helped limit Bluffton to a single goal Saturday, including a big save in the second half.

Big boot: Sophomore Hannah Eash gets the ball out of Goshen’s half during first period play Saturday.

Goshen, IN — It might have taken awhile, but Goshen began its 2004 home season in style Saturday evening, defeating Bluffton University by a 3-1 score at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. After a 1-1 score at halftime, the Leafs turned up both their offensive production and their overall level of play, slowly pulling away from the Beavers in a half that pleased head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj.

“We played much better both offensively and defensively in the second half today,” Mounsithiraj said. “We were more effective in covering them, and we were able to create more scoring chances for ourselves.”

Things couldn’t have started much better for Goshen (1-1, 0-0) as junior Molly Kauffman rocketed a score past the Bluffton keeper in just the game’s fifth minute. Unfortunately, the Leafs lost track of a Bluffton forward just two minutes later, and the game was tied at 1-1.

Both teams traded decent looks for the remainder of the first half, and Bluffton was able to stay close in part to both good defense and a lack of offensive control by Goshen. At halftime, however, Mounsithiraj would ask for that to change.

“At halftime, I told the ladies that we needed to pick up our level of play in order to win this game,” Mounsithiraj said. “We emphasized being more compact defensively and not allowing Bluffton to stretch us out as they did in the first half. We also emphasized taking early shots from the outside. Fortunately, we were able to defend better in the second half and our attack from the back created much needed offense.”

Sophomore Mary Jo Martin started the offensive charge at the 57th minute, when she took a deflected corner kick and blasted a one touch into the Bluffton net from 25 yards out. Kauffman showed her leg strength 20 minutes later, drilling a shot from nearly the same distance that found the back of the net.

And despite Goshen’s newfound offense, its defensive unit provided support in the second half. Senior goalkeeper Megan Morris made an incredible save midway through the second half on a shot that would have tied the game at two apiece. That shot was Bluffton’s best chance to score in the second period, as sophomore Hannah Eash helped lead Goshen’s defensive unit to a scoreless effort in the game’s final 45 minutes.

“Megan Morris made a crucial save, and that was a big momentum getter for us,” Mounsithiraj said. “(Freshman) Kelly Shenk was strong from the outside for us, as she had a very effective offensive game today. Our bench was also very effective, as they were able to maintain the level of intensity throughout the game that is expected of them. In all, it was a good way to open our home season. The crowd was fantastic, and it was nice to see them full of Goshen fans.”

The Leafs will have a chance to entertain the home crowd again on Wednesday, when the team hosts Judson College. Match time is set for 6 p.m.

AUG. 28 — Goshen Hangs Tough, Can't Hold On In OT
Calumet makes most of dominant possession; wins 2-1

Junior Tara Plank

Fort Wayne, IN — The 2004 Goshen College women’s soccer season got off to a poor start Friday night, as heavy rain and lightening cancelled what would have been the opening match at the Indiana Tech Classic Products Kick Off Classic. Unfortunately, when the Leafs returned to Fort Wayne on Saturday to face Calumet College in the round-robin event’s third scheduled game, the bad luck continued: Goshen dropped a 2-1 overtime decision to the Crimson Wave, being outshot by a 24 to seven count in the process.

“It was a tough weekend for us, first with the weather and then with our play on Saturday,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “Calumet’s strong possession game coupled with our inexperience in the backfield was pretty evident, but we still had a chance to win. We’ll just have to be more disciplined and focus in our marking which we’ll continue to work on and improve as the season progresses.”

Goshen (0-1, 0-0) was able to score the game’s first points, as junior Tara Plank took a nifty through ball from junior Molly Kauffman and buried it in the back of the net in just the 13th minute. Regrettably, that would be the Leafs last and best chance to score, as Calumet began to take over possession. The Crimson Wave scored just three minutes into the second half to tie the game, but it looked like the game could be broken open at any minute: Calumet continually attacked Goshen’s goal, but a strong effort from senior keeper Megan Morris thwarted many Crimson Wave efforts. Goshen was able to maintain the 1-1 tie into overtime, where Calumet scored seven minutes in on a dribble move goal.

“Both of Calumet’s goals came off dribble moves inside the box, and we’ve just got to do a better job marking at that point,” Mounsithiraj said. “Megan Morris was pretty busy and made some close saves to give us a chance. Offensively, our plan was to isolate Tara Plank on the outside to create some scoring chances for us. She scored on a great ball from Molly Kauffman early, but we had trouble generating many chances once Calumet began to attack.”

Goshen was scheduled to face off against Indiana Tech in the classic’s opening round on Friday until the inclement weather forced cancellation. It is still undecided as to whether the teams will make up the game at a later date.

Goshen will next host Bluffton College to open its home season on Saturday. Match time is set for 7 p.m.