GOSHEN, Ind. — The penalty kicks both went Goshen College's way, but the final score did not as the Maple Leafs opened their 2018 men's soccer campaign with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Madonna University on Tuesday at the John Ingold Athletic Complex.

Barely 12 minutes had elapsed when the referee awarded Madonna the first shot of either team's season, a spot kick as the result of a foul on the south end of the field. Junior goalkeeper Tomas Fonseca, making his first start at GC, put the early momentum in the court of the home side with a save: he added another some 90 seconds later.

The NAIA's 15th-ranked side, Madonna, opened the scoring on a Ludvick Asigo free kick with 15:38 left in the half. The Maple Leafs (0-1) would post the next four attempts, putting two on frame, before the Crusaders doubled their lead when Leonardo Abonizio finished a corner kick eight seconds before the halftime whistle.

Senior Murray Cockburn posted Goshen's first score of the season exactly 12 minutes after halftime, working in the same penalty area that Fonseca had protected earlier in the evening. Unfortunately, that was not Goshen's first goal of the year, as the Crusaders had also benefited from an own goal in the 54th minute to take a 3-0 lead.

The hosts took five of the last six shots over the last quarter-hour of the match, forcing three saves from Madonna netminder Joe Smith, but were unable to capitalize on any of them.

GC finished with 12 shots to Madonna's 7 and a 7-5 edge in shots on target. Midfielder Matt Granitz led the team with three shots; he and Cockburn both put two attempts on target. Fonseca finished with three saves.

The teams combined for 37 fouls, although neither side saw a player booked until the 89th minute. Goshen took four of the match's seven corners and used six substitutes.

Goshen returns to the pitch with two matches this weekend, hosting Holy Cross at 5 p.m. Friday and 18th-ranked Central Methodist at 7 p.m. Saturday.