By Andrew Snyder
Sports Information Intern

GOSHEN, Ind. — Freshman Ollie Smith tallied the game winning goal from the penalty spot as the Goshen College men's soccer team defeated Indiana Wesleyan 1-0 Wednesday night at the John Ingold Athletic Complex. The win snapped a 10-match head-to-head losing streak that dated back to 2009 for the Maple Leafs.

Almost all of the game played out in stretches of possession for one team or the other, and in the first half it was Indiana Wesleyan (8-6-2, 3-4-1) who formed stretches more often and for longer. However, Goshen goalkeeper Johan Escalante made three of his game-high seven saves to keep the clean sheet for the first 45 minutes.

Goshen's best chance on goal came in the final 10 minutes of the half when freshman Darius Rawlins crossed a ball to the near post for Smith. However, Wildcat keeper Luis Fancello got a hand on the ball to push it out of Smith's reach and keep the game scoreless.

The Maple Leafs (5-6-5, 3-3-2) registered four shots in the first half while Indiana Wesleyan took nine. The Wildcats added three corner kicks to the Maple Leafs' two.

In the second half, Mother Nature added rain to the mix. Goshen was not fazed; whether it was cause and effect or coincidence, the Maple Leafs slowly gained momentum moving forward. In the 70th minute Smith eluded two defenders as he entered the penalty area and was taken down on the right side, drawing the kick that he would then finish for the lead with 20:42 left in regulation.

The grit and perseverance of both the defensive line and Escalante in goal only strengthened as the Wildcats pushed for an equalizer, and the 1-0 score line held to the final whistle. The Maple Leafs finished on the lower side of an 18-11 shot spread while the Wildcats took the 6-2 corner kick edge.

The win, coupled with a tie between Mount Vernon and Grace, leaves the Maple Leafs in sole possession of sixth place and guaranteed a spot in the Crossroads League postseason tournament, which begins on October 29. Goshen can finish as high as fourth, which would allow it to host a quarterfinal for the first time since 2009. The Maple Leafs must first wrap up the regular season this Saturday when they travel to Winona Lake to take on Grace College, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.