INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian men's soccer team rallied twice to take a lead on Wednesday night against Spring Arbor, but came 2:19 short of a victory against the Cougars as a late goal pushed the game into a 3-3 draw. Marian's draw gives them their first point on the Crossroads League table, as they move to 3-5-2 overall and 0-1-1 in league play.
Spring Arbor won possession early in the match, and used their speed to their advantage as they put away the first goal of the game. After winning the ball on their own defensive half, Ben Dykstra sent a crisp pass 50-yards through the air to Jack Voight, who collected the ball and scored from the top of the box to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Cougars would continue to press and registered a pair of shots before Marian was able to muster their first strike, as Justin Kapp took the Knights' first shot in the 17th minute.
Marian continued to win possession as the half wore on, and in the 27th minute found their first goal of the night as Kapp scored off a pass from David Green, leveling the score at 1-1. The Knights offense continued to attack ripping a pair of hard shots, and six minutes after Kapp's goal found a go-ahead score as Kyle Alb headed down a ball from Jack Reynolds to give Marian the lead. Alb's first career goal pushed Marian on top 2-1, as the Knights closed the final 13 minutes of the first half to take a lead into intermission.
After halftime, Spring Arbor came out quickly and drove home the night's fourth goal in the 48th minute, getting a Nathan Ntalu score to even the match at 2-2. The game remained a draw for the next 31 minutes, despite contested looks from both Spring Arbor and Marian. The Cougars fired three quick shots after the goal but Brendan Weiger came up with the save on two of the occasions, while the other sailed over the crossbar. Marian countered in the 62nd minute as Nate Van Keulen looked to score on a breakaway, but he missed off the side of the net.
In the 79th minute, Marian saw their patience pay off, as Alb netted his second goal of the game on a set piece. Alb headed in another pass from Reynolds, as his second career goal gave the home team a 3-2 lead. Marian's defense attempted to hold off the Cougars for the final 11 minutes, but with 2:19 to play Trevor Kacou found a hole in the Knights backline and headed down a ball from Guilherme Micaelo, scoring the tying goal. Marian attempted to make a late push, but were unable to squeak in a final shot as the score ended in a 3-3 draw.
For the game, Marian took 11 shots and were led by Van Keulen who took three attempts, with two on goal. Alb scored on both of his shot attempts, as his second and third career shots went in for scores. Kapp also scored his first career goal, and took three shots in the draw. In net, Weiger made six saves, denying two-thirds of Spring Abor's shots.
Marian will face a tough task as they go back on the road on Saturday night, taking on No. 12 Bethel at 5 p.m. in Mishawaka.
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