Goshen, Ind. - Scoring twice in both the first and second halves of Saturday's contest, the Marian men's soccer team was able to earn their second win of the Crossroads League season as they downed Goshen 4-1. Marian's win gives them a 5-9-2 overall record on the year, as they improve to 2-4-1 in league play, snapping a two-game skid.
Marian was the aggressor early Saturday night, drawing two corner kicks in the first minute of the match. Dylann Merchand took the game's first shot in the second minute off one of the corners, and kept the offense in rhythm as three different players took a shot over the next five minutes. The pace slowed but Marian stayed on the attack as Jack Reynolds and Sebastian Gonzalez each took shots on frame in the 14th minute, and Jalen Rice launched a boot on target in the 20th minute.
The Knights' attack paid off in the 22nd minute, as Nate Van Keulen won a loose ball on the right side of the goal box, and found an open Alan Tenorio in front of the goal, who chipped in the game's first score. Marian doubled their lead less than three minutes later, as Van Keulen was the beneficiary of a pass from Valentin Neuhold, as he put his team on top 2-0. Marian's offense would go stale after the pair of kick goals, managing just one shot attempt in the final 20 minutes, while Goshen's offense ignited. Henrique Eichenberger took a blast from the right side, and drove a ball past Alvaro Ruedo, cutting the score in half in the 34th minute.
Marian led 2-1 at the break while holding a significant advantage in possession, taking 10 shots to Goshen's two.
Goshen's offense picked up the tempo in the second half as they were able to get some good looks in the first 20 minutes, but were unable to get a clear attempt on goal. Marian countered the attack getting multiple shots as they looked for an insurance goal, but came up dry as a look from Reynolds and Merchand went left of the goal.
Continuing to get strong defense from the back line, Marian's attack was able to produce an insurance goal in the 83rd minute, as Evan Dawdy put away a Gonzalez crossing pass from the right side, putting the Knights in the driver's seat with a 3-1 advantage. Marian was able to play keep away as they drained the final seven minutes off the board, and in the final second of the match Gonzalez netted his first goal of the year, putting away a breakaway shot to land the 4-1 victory.
Marian put up 19 shots on Saturday night that resulted in four goals, tying a season-high which was set in a win over Lourdes on August 27. Dawdy scored two points with his insurance goal, putting one of his two shots away for goals. Van Keulen scored what stood as the game-winning goal and added an assist for a three-point match, while Tenorio scored the game's first goal. Gonzalez added a goal and assist to his team-leading five shots, with Neuhold recording Marian's third helper.
Alvaro Ruedo earned his first win in goal as a Knight Saturday evening, playing all 90 minutes while seeing two shots on goal. Ruedo came away with one save in the win.
The Knights win improves the team into a tie for sixth at time of posting, with Marian and Spring Arbor each showing seven points on the table. Marian will kick off a big week at home on Wednesday night, as they host Taylor at 7 p.m.
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