GOSHEN, Ind. - Two goals by Eli Simones were a part of a 3-1 Goshen lead against Mount Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday night, but a late rally by the Cougars resulted in a 3-3 draw. Goshen had lost the three previous matchups against MVNU going back to 2018.
 
In the 15^th minute, Lucas Bontreger faked a shot on the left side and moved past his defender, slinging a pass in front of the goal where Simones slid by the far post to try to put one in. Although he didn't connect on his initial attempt, he got up and put the second one over the keeper to make the score 1-0.
 
Mount Vernon answered with less than ten minutes to go in the half when Zack Bowser scored on a header flicked in off a free kick taken by Ryan Walters. Goshen took four of the first six shots in the half, but MVNU took the latter seven. Nevertheless, the teams were tied at one at the break.
 
Then, Goshen started the second half off with a bang. Bontreger got past a defender's failed slide tackle and had open space down the field. He eventually crossed it to the middle of the field, and Wendo Kisila fed the ball to Felipe Carli. The goalkeeper could only watch as Carli put it in the corner of the net from just inside the 18. The goal was scored just 37 seconds into the second half.
 
The Leafs scored goal number three just two and a half minutes later. And for the third time, it started with Bontreger. Bontreger crossed it to the middle from his position inside the penalty box, where it hit a Cougars defender and then deflected off the Cougars goalie. Simones was at the right place at the right time as he hit it off his knee, and it went in goal.
 
The visitors cut in on Goshen's lead when Jared Mont crossed a ball in from the left side to Sam Hershey – cutting the deficit to one. Then Keon Boney tied it with less than four minutes remaining, and neither team could score afterward. MVNU had seven more shots than Goshen in the game, but each team had six shots on goal.
 
Matias da Fonseca made three saves in goal for Goshen. Bontreger, Carli, and Simones each had two shots on goal. Those three also share the team lead in goals this season with three apiece. Kisila and Bontreger share the team lead in assists with three each.
 
The three goals are the most the Maple Leafs have scored against the Cougars since 2011. Goshen (0-7-3) hosts Saint Francis on Saturday, October 1, at 7:00 pm before hosting Bethel the following Homecoming weekend at 2:00 pm.