Lancers prove superior in top 20 bout
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – Grace’s College’s 16th ranked men’s soccer bested No. 13 Oklahoma Wesleyan 2-0 on Thursday night.
Nelu Calcai potted the game winning goal at the midpoint of the opening stanza, and Jaun Garcia added the insurance marker just minutes into the second half.
Both teams probed early in the top 20 matchup, but it was OKWU who had the first scoring chance. The Eagles found an opening in the Lancers defense on the counter attack, but Mateo Conci was up to the task to save the Eagle’s chance.
The Eagles kept the pressure up and as a result were rewarded with a corner kick, which harmlessly cleared away.
The Lancers mustered a response when Martim Sequeira began to find creases in the Eagle defense and a pair of dangerous scoring chances.
OKWU again threatened with a pair of shots. This time Conci got help from 30 who blocked a point blank shot to keep the game deadlocked.
Immediately following the Eagle chance, Grace would draw first blood.
The Lancers worked the counter-attack to perfection. Jonny Mora started the break and Joao Sousa sent a beautiful through ball past the OKWU defense and Calcai buried the ensuing shot for the game’s first goal.
The Lancers nearly doubled their lead late in the half, but Sequeira’s chip shot sailed just high of the cross bar.
At the half both teams had tried eight shots. OKWU held a 3-2 corner kick advantage.
Grace threatened early and often in the second half, as nearly every counter attack push from the Lancers ended in a scoring chance.
10 minutes into the second half, Grace once again used clinical passing to double their lead.
Grace built up the attack from midfield as Calcai and Sequeira moved the ball forward and Juan Garcia blasted a shot past the keeper to give Grace the two-goal lead.
Conci made a timely save at the midpoint of the period to help the Lancers maintain the 2-0 lead.
The Eagles continued to push late, but were unable to solve Grace’s defense, as the Lancers held on for 2-0 season opening win.
Matteo Conci made four saves and Sequeira led all players with six shots. Grace held a 16-13 shot advantage. The teams combined for 10 yellow cards.
Grace will be back in action on Saturday when they play host to Governors State.