Grace drops MVNU advances to semifinals
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace College’s men’s soccer team advanced to the Crossroads League semifinals with a 2-1 win over Mt. Vernon on Wednesday night.
The Lancers (8-7-2) surrendered the first goal of the game just three minutes into the match, but Grace responded with a pair of markers including a second half goal from Seongwhi Lee which proved to be the game-winner.
With the win, Grace will advance to the conference semifinals where they will play host to Spring Arbor at 4pm on Saturday. The Lancers won the previous meeting this season 1-0.
It was all Cougars early in Wednesday night’s quarter final showdown. MVNU had a near miss just 90 seconds into the game before burying the game’s first mark just moments later.
After scoring the go-ahead goal MVNU’s offense went quiet which allowed the Lancer’s to settle into a sustained attack.
In the 15th minute Daniel Santos Rosa ripped a shot on goal from just outside the box. The Cougar keeper was unable to secure the hard shot which resulted in a rebound that bounced to Kyle Holwerda who blasted the loose ball into the net to tie the game at one.
After two goals in the opening 15 minutes the offensive chances died down through the middle portion of the period.
The Cougars had a pair of chances late in the half but neither try towards the net could solve Matteo Conci.
The shots were nearly even in the first half with MVNU holding a narrow 6-5 advantage. Grace had three corner kicks while the Cougars had none.
Play resumed in the second half tied at one but the game wouldn’t remain level for long.
Santos Rosa had a set-piece opportunity which he sent into the box to Lee who capitalized with his first goal of the season to push the Lancers ahead 2-1.
Despite jumping into the lead, Grace continued to be the aggressors. The Lancers controlled possession, holding MVNU without a shot until the 75th minute.
Grace’s lead was nearly doubled when Julian Saldivar and Holwerda had back-to-back chances but both shots were fought off by the pesky Cougar’s defense.
Time continued to wind down on the Cougars chances of a comeback but MVNU was unable to spark a threatening chance. The Cougars had one last shot on goal in the final seconds of the game but Conci made the save to secure the 2-1 win for Grace.
The Lancers finished the game with a 14-10 shot advantage and a 7-2 lead in corner kicks.