Box Score GOSHEN, Ind. — Isaac Huerta scored his second goal of the game in the 107th minute as the Goshen College men's soccer team broke a seven-match losing streak with a 2-1 double-overtime win over no. 24 Spring Arbor University Wednesday night at the Goshen College Soccer Complex.
Huerta, who graduated from Goshen High School as the school's all-time leading scorer, won a state championship as a senior and was the 2014 state player of the year, had been held scoreless through nine collegiate matches. Injuries limited him to three starts and 16 shots through the season's first half.
But the freshman scored his first college goal with 13 seconds left before halftime, chipping the ball over an oncoming Cougar goalkeeper to put the home team ahead. An hour and two minutes later, Spencer Aeschliman's cross from the left wing glanced off a defender and lay loose at the top of the six-yard box. Huerta slid, hit the ball with his right foot, and drove it inside the near post for the golden goal.
Between Huerta's goals, Spring Arbor tied the game on a tally from Jared Putt, assisted by Adam Hunt, with 14:57 remaining. The Cougars mustered five shots on goal to Goshen's nine, and Maple Leaf netminder Dean Nafziger made four stops to keep the score level at 1-1.
The Cougars finished with a 10-2 corner kick advantage but were unable to convert on any of the chances. Goshen's back line was bolstered by the return of Jadon Chupp, who missed Saturday's loss at Marian with a family commitment.
"It was great to see Jadon back tonight," said Goshen head coach Arron Patrick. "I think his aggressive and athletic way of playing is huge for us, even though it doesn't show up statistically. I'm also really proud of the leadership Nafziger showed in goal: his communication and game management were great."
Each team took three shots in the first half and two in the second: Goshen's lead in that category came from a 5-1 advantage in the extra periods, and Patrick attributed that to several players.
"Brodie Nofziger showed a lot of maturity up top and out wide, reaping the rewards of his hard work," the coach said. "Jamie Reid was much better at organizing the midfield tonight. But obviously Huerta was the shining star, and he broke the longest scoring streak of his life. He's had a lot of injuries this year, but he has trusted in the coaching staff and his ability, and as we all knew would happen eventually, he became the match winner."
The win was Goshen's first victory over a ranked opponent since Sept. 6, 2012, when the Maple Leafs beat 17th-ranked Saint Xavier 1-0 behind a first-half score from 2014 alumnus Jacob Yoder.
"I can't put into words how proud I am of my entire roster," said Patrick, doing just that. "We have worked tirelessly throughout the year and played games where we have done everything but get the win. We've preached that wins don't define us and that the work we do in training is far more valuable than what we do with the lights on. But we needed that win to turn the corner and get out of the valley of despair of the last few weeks. We have bounced back and persevered and now are on our way up."
Goshen defeated Spring Arbor for the first time since 2010, a game the Maple Leafs also won 2-1 in overtime but on the road. Jan Dohnal scored both goals in that match, part of a season where he was named first-team all-conference.
"Spring Arbor deserves credit: they are a very talented team that plays some very attractive (soccer)," Patrick said. "But when we play the film back, we had the better chances and we looked like we could score on every counter. Our guys executed the game plan and hopefully that will instill more trust between them and the coaching staff as we move forward."
The Maple Leafs return to the pitch on Saturday afternoon against Taylor University. A part of Goshen College Homecoming Weekend, the match kicks off at 2 p.m. at the Goshen College Soccer Complex. An hour prior to kickoff, ground will be broken for the entrance gate to the Dr. John Ingold Athletic Complex as the fields are named for the longtime coach and volunteer who coached men's soccer from 1965 to 1974.
