Upland, IN — For the Goshen College women’s soccer team, the hump is in sight.

Unfortunately, it’s a tad higher than what the squad would have liked.

Goshen dropped its second consecutive Mid-Central Conference match by a 1-0 score Saturday, falling to Taylor University in yet another evenly played contest that did not turn out in the Leafs’ favor. After knocking off Huntington University by a 2-0 score on Sept. 19 (click here for article) — the program’s first season-opening MCC win under fifth-year head coach Thavisith Mounsithiraj — Goshen (4-6, 1-2) has dropped a pair of heartbreaking one to nil losses. Grace College defeated the Leafs by that score on Wednesday (click here for article), while the Lady Trojans literally hung on in the final seconds for the close-cut win Saturday.

“Today’s match was again pretty even,” Mounsithiraj said. “We had our chances but just did not put the ball in goal.”

The Leafs’ lack of scoring came at the exception of dominating ball control in the second period, as Mounsithiraj said he was far happier with his team’s performance Saturday in comparison to what he called a “less than stellar” effort at Grace. A six to two Taylor advantage in shots on goal resulted only due to most of Goshen’s shots sailing wide or high of the intended mark, a misleading stat according to the Leafs’ leader.

“I thought we really had a good outing today,” Mounsithiraj said. “I thought going into the game we were more focused and knew what we wanted to do in our minds. Our intensity level was much better today. We had an excellent second half and possessed the ball very well. We created numerous chances to even up the game in the last 15 minutes. We just failed to convert on them, sending at least four or five shots high or wide.”

Goshen was in search of an equalizer score after Taylor made the most of an opportunity at the 34th-minute mark, taking a throw-in deep in Leafs’ territory. Mounsithiraj’s squad failed to mark Taylor’s Amanda Harsy just inside the 18-yard box, and the ensuing shot was placed well away from sophomore goalkeeper Emmy Gibson (five saves).

A resurgent second half saw the Leafs make push after push, only to finish with shots that were off the mark. Junior Lucy Roth provided Goshen with quality runs up front, but several errors in the middle of the field may have cost the team additional opportunities.

“In a game this close any little mistake will hurt you and we did have a few mistakes,” Mounsithiraj said. “At times mentally we just lost our concentration in certain key situations. A couple times I thought we made poor decisions with passes in the middle of the field. We need to continue to work on releasing the ball sooner.”

Perhaps the biggest threat to tie the game came in the waning moments, as freshman Kaylee Pichardo made a tremendous run on a long ball as the clock ticked down. A Taylor defender collided with Pichardo inside the Lady Trojan 18-yard box, and the Leafs’ sideline arose looking for a penalty kick situation. Unfortunately, it was Pichardo that was whistled for the foul, ending any hope of a dramatic finish.

Goshen attempted three corner kicks to Taylor’s five. Mounsithiraj also noted the play of junior Sara Groff in the midfield and classmate Kelsey Hartman, who entered a game for the second straight time making an impact off the bench.

“Sara was strong in the center midfield and Kelsey gave us very quality minutes when she got into the game,” Mounsithiraj said.

The Leafs will get only a brief respite before hosting league rival Bethel College on Tuesday evening. Match time is set for 7 p.m. at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.