(Box Score) Goshen, IN — Unfortunately for Taylor University, Wednesday night’s Mid-Central Conference match-up with the Goshen College women’s soccer team turned out to be a lot like playing with fire.
And fortunately for Goshen, it was Taylor that got burned.
Despite wasting a pair of point-blank, wide open scoring opportunities, Goshen (3-6-2, 1-2-1) managed to finally cash in and secure its first MCC win of the season, defeating Taylor by a 1-0 score at the Goshen College Soccer Complex in front of a relieved throng of nearly 500 spectators.
The win was Goshen’s first over Taylor since the 1997 season and second overall in the 17-year history of the Leafs’ program. Taylor introduced its women’s soccer program in 1996.
“This was a much needed win for us,” said Thavisith Mounsithiraj, Goshen head coach. “The manner in which we won was not quite as satisfying as we would have hoped for, but nevertheless it was an important win for our program.”
Mounsithiraj’s squad proved to be the aggressor from the outset Wednesday, gaining possession of the ball on Taylor’s half of the field and pummeling the Trojans’ defensive third throughout. Goshen would finish with a 20 to 10 advantage in total shots and a 17 to seven difference in shots on goal, but it would be inexplicably missed chances that nearly set the standard for the evening.
Freshman Yaneth Hernandez was the first to miss out on a golden scoring opportunity, having a wide open shot from 12 yards out with just under 20 minutes remaining in the first half. With the Trojans’ keeper Shawna Lane on the ground and out of the play, Hernandez sailed her attempt over the top of the crossbar.
The score would have been her team-leading fifth of the year.
An even better chance to take a 1-0 lead presented itself with just over 25 minutes remaining in regulation, as sophomore Laura Schlabach sent a perfectly placed cross into the Trojans’ six-yard box to a streaking Chelsea Graber (freshman). With Lane again out of the play — she slid toward Schlabach in an attempt to secure the ball — Graber needed only to tap the ball into the empty net.
As the crowd rose in anticipation, Graber sliced the ball off of her foot, pushing the ball off the end line for a Taylor goal kick.
“Both (Yaneth and Chelsea) would make those shots 99 times out of 100,” said Goshen assistant coach Tera Furman. “There’s really no explanation for why they missed, and neither player would give you one.”
Fortunately, Goshen’s consistent runs at the Taylor frame were rewarded just a minute after Graber’s miscue. Sophomore Kaylee Pichardo was able to head in a beautifully served corner kick from classmate Alli Gotwals at the 64:55 mark, giving her team a 1-0 lead.
Finally.
“We had numerous incredible and quality chances inside their box throughout the course of the evening,” Mounsithiraj said. “We played well enough to struggle for a win. We observed the great effort that our girls were showing, but it seemed like their feet and legs were not following what their heads were wanting to do tonight. I can readily see what they want to do with their plays. We just struggled to make it happen.”
Junior goalkeeper Emmy Gibson finished with seven saves on the night and, despite Goshen’s continual dominance up front, had a remarkable save midway through the first half. Following a Taylor counter attack, a misplayed ball in Goshen’s backfield led to a one-on-one situation with the Trojan’s Becca Miller, a match-up that Gibson would win. Sliding to the turf, Gibson stopped a full-blown blast from just 10 yards out that would have given Taylor an early 1-0 advantage.
“We established and kept our shape well, but our poor first touches allowed Taylor to gain possession and counter us,” Mounsithiraj said. “Everyone seemed to struggle with that tonight. I thought that Laura Schlabach displayed a well-rounded game tonight as a sub for us, and (freshman) Liz Gunden continues to track down many balls in the back. She has been a nice addition for our defense. We will need to have everyone continue to build on our win tonight and put forth another good performance on Friday.”
Wednesday’s win was another notch in Mounsithiraj’s belt, as it was his first win over Taylor since taking over the program in 2002. Goshen last — and only other — win over the Trojans occurred on Sept. 9, 1997. The Leafs won that contest by a 3-2 score at Goshen.
Mounsithiraj’s squad will next travel to cross-town rival Bethel College on Friday, as the team will kick off the first of a men’s-women’s double-header with the Pilots. Match time is set for 6 p.m. in Mishawaka.
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Freshman Liz Gunden