The offense shines during Lancers’ opener
WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The 2021 season for Grace’s men’s soccer team started in impressive fashion with a 3-0 win over Trinity International on Tuesday.
The Lancers’ three goals were scored by newcomers, netting all three after halftime.
Grace finished the match with a 16-7 advantage in shot attempts and a 9-3 edge in shots on goal. Martim Cardoso took the spotlight, scoring twice in his Lancer debut.
The first half belonged almost entirely to Grace. The Lancers dominated possession, and every threatening chance came from Grace.
Cardoso nearly opened his scoring account with Grace in spectacular fashion during the first half. His attempted overhead bicycle kick sailed wide of the net during one of Grace’s initial chances.
Felipe Gruber kept the Trojans’ defense on edge throughout the first half as well. During one occasion, Gruber masterfully weaved through the entire TIU defense before his low shot was saved in front of goal.
Grace was unable to produce a goal before halftime, however. The Lancers had a 7-0 edge in shots and 7-0 edge in corner kicks in the first half but settled for the scoreless draw.
The Trojans seemed to awake from their slumber to begin the second half. TIU was offensively aggressive for the first 15 minutes after halftime, quickly trying five shots which were mostly outside the 18-yard box.
But Grace weathered the change of momentum and capitalized on its first shot of the second half.
Daniel Santos Rosa picked out Ze Maria Goncalves on the right side of the box. Goncalves found space between a pair of defenders and slotted a pass to Cardoso, who placed his shot above the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
In the 79th minute, Cardoso scored again. Goncalves jumpstarted the attack with a leading pass to Jules Peycelon. Peycelon delivered a cross into the box, and Cardoso volleyed a low drive inside the right post for an insurance goal.
The exclamation point came in the final three minutes. Grace completed a clinical set piece, using two quick passes from Peycelon and Korry Hamlin to set up Bailey Whalley for a close-range finish in front of the goal.
Goncalves and Peycelon finished with two assists apiece to go along with Cardoso’s two-goal performance.
The Lancers will remain at home on Saturday for a doubleheader with Grace’s women’s squad. The women host Saint Mary at 12 p.m. followed by the men against Lawrence Tech at 2 p.m.
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