Soccer Game Report
Hesston vs. Goshen College
Oct. 17, Goshen, Ind.

 
1st
2nd
OT
Final
Hesston
0
1
0
1
Goshen
0
1
1
2

1st half:  no goals

2nd half:  1 HC Philip Kauffman (Brett Brand) 84:24; 1 GC Ashe Abebe (7 unassisted); 89:30

OT:  2 GC Craig Mast (unassisted-pk) 91:44

Shots:  HC 9 (5 SOG); GC 14 (7 SOG)

Saves:  HC 5 (James Ward): GC 4 (Craig Welscott)

Yellow Cards:  none

Red Cards:  none

Coach's Summary:  The Hesston College soccer team traveled to Indiana to take on two four-year colleges:  Goshen College and Tri-State University. The clash of the Mennonite colleges, Goshen College (10-3-3) and Hesston College (7-6-1), would prove to be everything it was hyped up to be.
      "I know that our players were really excited to play against Goshen. For one, six of our guys played high school soccer in this area and many of the other players had lots of friends and family coming out to watch. Plus our guys really enjoy playing under the lights at home so playing on Goshen's field would feel somewhat like a home match in spite of being a thousand miles from Hesston. And to add fuel to the fire we do not feel that we get the respect we deserve from the other four-year Mennonite colleges. We definitely were playing with a chip on our shoulder. We wanted to prove that even though we are a two-year school we could still play very good soccer. We did not come here to just have a good showing. We came here to win."
      Both teams came out with lots of energy. The crowd of more than 1,100 divided fans was instantly into the game.   "The fans were great. We were able to have just as many fans as Goshen because of all the alumni we have in the area. Goshen fans were a little more vocal but we definitely felt the support of our fans too."  Both teams created good scoring opportunities in the first half but the scoreboard would remain 0-0 going into half time.
      The second half began much like the first half but with even more intensity. Hesston would have the first great opportunity to score when the Larks broke through the Leafs defense and caught Goshen goalkeeper, Craig Welcott, out of the net. However, the Larks missed a golden opportunity in front of the goal.  "You never like to miss opportunities like that. However, at that point we felt like this was going to be our game. I did not think we played as well as we could have the first half. I think we were maybe a little too excited about this game and just needed to settle down. The second half we played much better. We started with Brandon Davis up front for much of the game and then later we put him back at his natural position, center mid. Once he got back in the middle we started controlling the game much better."
      Goshen would miss their own prime opportunity when they ripped a shot off the far post from inside the eighteen. The next best chance went back to Hesston and this time they would make good on their opportunity. Lark forward Brett Brand penetrated down the left side of the pitch and rifled a cross along the ground to a sprinting Philip Kauffman. Kauffman slotted the ball nicely past Welcott and into the far side netting.
      "That was such a beautiful goal. Brett did a great job to create that by doing what he loves to do best. It was also nice to see Philip get a goal. He is such a hard worker and such a competitor."
With just under six minutes remaining in the contest Hesston was looking to wrap up the game, but the Leafs pressed forward in desperation. The efforts paid off in the waning seconds. Atlee Schrock sent a ball into the box. Craig Mast (2004 Hesston grad) attempted head ball went wide when he collided with Lark goalkeeper James Ward. With Ward out of the box and players swarming around the goal it was Ashe Abebe who slipped in the tying goal with just 30 seconds remaining on the clock.
      In overtime, Goshen was awarded a penalty kick just one minute into the extra time. Junior midfielder Craig Mast knocked in the winning goal for the Leafs.  "That goal at the end of regulation was really deflating but I still felt like we could win that game. So that is why my team and I wanted to play overtime. It was just unfortunate that such a well played game had to end on a penalty kick. But if anyone is going to beat my team I glad it was one of my former players. I knew once Craig stepped up to take the kick that James would have a tough task on his hands. Craig does not miss pks. Craig played really well and it was great to see him play again. I am happy for him and proud of the great job he is doing for Tavi (the Goshen College soccer coach)."
      "I was also proud of my team. I thought we played well against a very good Goshen squad. People talk about this being their JV team or their reserve squad. Do not kid yourself. Tavi put out a very good team against us and we not only held our own but felt like we should have won. The only real disappointing thing is that we had some injuries. Brett Brand twisted his ankle and is questionable for the post season. That hurts us more than anything. It will require other players to step up and get the job done."
      Hesston (7-7-1) will end their regular season play against Tri-State University on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. in Angola, Indiana.