By Andrew Snyder
Athletic Marketing Coordinator

MARION, Ind. — Two second-half goals from the Indiana Wesleyan University duo of Douglas and Glauber Oliveira powered the host Wildcats to the 2-0 men's soccer victory over Goshen on Wednesday night.

The host Wildcats (8-6-2, 5-2-1) took control of the first half, taking eight shots through the first 45 minutes while only allowing two for Goshen. The Maple Leafs (11-4-2, 4-2-2) earned one corner kick while Wesleyan took three in the opening stanza, but when the whistle blew to signal halftime, the scoreboard still read 0-0.

Into the second half the home side struck first, as in the 49th minute a shot from Samuel Conti was blocked before Glauber Oliveira buried the rebound for the 1-0 lead.

Playing its first game since receiving votes in the NAIA coaches poll on Tuesday, Goshen picked up the offensive pressure and found numerous opportunities in the final third as it looked for an equalizer. Freshman Stuart Aeschliman paced the Maple Leafs with three shots, two of which he put on frame; the third involved the team's leading scorer carefully dribbling along the top of the 18-yard box before curling a shot inches wide of the far post.

Indiana Wesleyan continued their offensive pressure as well, being credited with seven shots while Goshen registered six. In the 66th minute a cross from Nico Matern on the left wing connected with Douglas Oliveira's head near the penalty spot; Oliveira flicked a shot into the back of the net for a 2-0 advantage that Indiana Wesleyan held to the end.

"IWU is a very good side," commented Goshen head coach Arron Patrick. "Well coached, well organized, and they have the best player in the league surrounded by other guys who are near the top as well. They played very well with all of their possession, however it took two goals from crosses to beat us. Our marking was extremely poor and our defending out wide to stop crosses was even worse. Those things cannot happen. Our attackers asked questions all night and we can learn a lot to be better moving forward!"

Goshen earned seven corners throughout the second half but was ultimately unable to finish with any goals, being shut out for just the second time this season and the first time since the season opener at Madonna on August 30. Maple Leaf goalkeeper Johan Escalante made five saves in the loss, while Andrew Wick made one save in posting the shutout for the Wildcats.

"We need to do a better job of imposing our style onto the 'bigger names' in the league," discussed Patrick. "When we play teams traditionally towards the top of the league, we seem to clam up. We do a good job if I ask the guys to just battle and win ugly, but when I ask them to express themselves, they seem to faulter in those specific games."

"This is all part of what is a two-year project with this group," Patrick explained. "We aren't going to cry about it and be sad because we lost a game; we have only lost four times this year. It's been a long time since that happened at GC. We have achieved so much, and it's because we've formed strong bonds with each other, and our own style of soccer that is tough to play against. We just have to learn to trust ourselves even more in these type of games."

Goshen returns home to celebrate its seniors on Saturday when it hosts Grace for a 7 p.m. kickoff to wrap up the regular season.

"Grace is another team I really respect," concluded Patrick. "Matt (Hotchkin) is a great coach; they're having a good year and it should be an exciting game. I'm so excited to honour our three seniors; Brodie (Nofziger) and Gabe (Eisenbeis) are my first guys who I had for four years, and only those two and myself really know how much we have transformed this program. Along with Oliver (Wisseman) they are three special guys, and the rest of our guys want it for them! We will play better, and we will enjoy our senior night!"

The Maple Leafs can finish as high as second in the Crossroads League with one match remaining for each conference team. The top four teams host quarterfinal matchups, something Goshen hasn't accomplished since 2009: Goshen would assure itself of a home game with a win and could still finish in the top four with a tie or loss.