Box Score By Andrew Snyder
Sports Information Intern
GOSHEN, Ind. — Goshen conceded the only goal of the game on a corner with just under 16 minutes left in the second half as the Maple Leaf men's soccer team fell to the Madonna University Crusaders 1-0 Saturday evening at GC's John Ingold Athletic Complex.
The first half saw plenty of shifts in momentum and a handful of opportunities for both sides. Goshen's best chance came nine minutes in. Freshman Ollie Smith took a shot from close range and it deflected back to sophomore Brodie Nofziger. Nofziger took the bouncing ball in the box, and while his shot was on goal, it ricocheted off of a defender and off of the diving goalie and back into play to be further cleared by the Crusaders defense.
Neither team could muster a goal and the game entered halftime tied 0-0. Goshen (1-1-1) held a slight 7-6 advantage in shots and also took the only corner kick of the first 45 minutes.
After the halftime break both teams came out with similar game plans to the first half; Goshen sought to possess the ball and move forward, while the Crusaders (1-0) looked to get their primary attacker, Amadou Cisse, in behind the Maple Leaf defense. A Madonna corner kick in the 75th minute from Billy Werthman connected with the head of Godfrey Kegode and rocketed into the back of the net for the 1-0 Crusader lead.
Goshen knew it needed a response but a stifling Madonna defense protected the goal and shut the Maple Leafs down, as the game finished 15 minutes later, still 1-0 in favor of the visitors.
Marcel Schmid, winner of a 2015 NAIA Defensive Player of the Week honor for Madonna, made three saves in the shutout. Johan Escalante made three stops as well for GC. Each team took the plurality of its shots through one player: Yuri Farkas took seven Madonna shots while Goshen's Nate Nussbaum tried five. Cisse was limited to three attempts, none on frame.
Madonna finished with 21 shots, four of which were on goal. Goshen countered with only 12 shots, but did match the mark of four shots on goal. The Crusaders also won the corner kick battle with a 5-1 edge.
Goshen has nearly a week off before returning to action on Friday when it hosts William Penn as part of the Goshen College Soccer Classic. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. with audio, video and stats at goleafs.net/live.
Click play below (or click here on mobile devices) to listen to head coach Arron Patrick's thoughts after the game.
