WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace College’s men’s soccer team defeated No. 5 Indiana Wesleyan in a wild 4-3 matchup on Wednesday night.
The game-winning goal came courtesy of Kyle Holwerda who scored with just 2:20 left in the game to lift the Lancers (3-5-2, 2-1 Crossroads League) over the previously unbeaten Wildcats.
The goals came early and often in topsy-turvy affair. Grace scored on the game’s first shot, just over six minutes into action.
The icebreaker was scored by Joao Laranjo who took full advantage of an ill-advised pass from a Wildcats (10-1, 2-1 CL) defender. Laranjo intercepted the pass and immediately turned toward goal and lifted an arcing shot over the outreached hand of the IWU keeper to give Grace the early advantage.
The Lancers lead was short lived though, as the Wildcats responded with an offensive blitz to race ahead 2-1 by the middle portion of the half. IWU’s pair of goals were separated by just 4:42.
Grace failed to muster much of an offensive threat for much of the 1st half, but momentum swung in the Lancers’ favor after a Wildcats’ red card.
IWU was given the red card after an illegal tackle which prevented a breakaway scoring chance for Grace. The Wildcats were forced the play the final 55:27 with just 10 player on the field,
Now playing a man up, the Lancers’ frantically attacked on offense as they sought to score the equalizer. Their efforts paid off when Nathan Van Keulen worked the ball deep into the attacking end and crossed a low pass to Holwerda who buried the ball to tie the game at two with seven-minutes remaining in the half.
Grace nearly took the lead into the half when Holwerda got behind the Wildcats’ defense with just seconds remaining but his attempt on goal sailed just high of the crossbar as time expired on the first half with game even at two-goals apiece.
At the halftime intermission the Lancers held a narrow 8-7 lead in shots while IWU had four corner kicks compared to Grace’s one.
The second half started much like the first, with a goal coming on the first shot after play resumed. This time it was IWU who scored to claim a one goal lead for the second time of the contest.
The Lancers responded just two-minutes later with a goal from Daniel Santos Rosa who settled a pass from Josh Cruz and blasted a shot past the goalie to even the game at three.
The Lancers dominated possession for the remainder of the half as they pelted the IWU goal with 11 shots in the frame.
With time dwindling it looked like the Lancers might have to settle for a draw, but a corner kick opportunity with 2:20 left on the clock proved to be the ball the Lancers needed.
Teague Misner crossed the corner opportunity into the middle of the box and Holwerda headed it into the far side of the open net before sprinting towards the jubilant Lancer crowd.
With the late go-ahead goal, Matteo Conci had to fend off just one Wildcats shot in the final moments to seal the 4-3 upset victory for Grace.
Grace finished the game out shooting IWU 19-11 and held an 8-5 corner kick advantage. Holwerda’s two goals give him six on the season.
Grace will return to action on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. The Lancers will host #RV Marian as part of Grace College’s homecoming festivities.

Grace Women’s Soccer Tastes First Defeat Of Season
MARION, Ind. - For the first time this year, Grace’s women’s soccer team came up on the short end of the scoreboard.
The Lancers (9-1-1, 1-1-1 Crossroads League) dropped a narrow 1-0 match at No. 17 Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday.
The Wildcats’ goal in the 73rd minute was all that separated the two conference foes in a fierce battle.
Grace began the game positively, almost completely limiting any chances for the Wildcats (7-2-2, 2-0-1 CL).
IWU needed 18 minutes of action to record its first off-target shot, and the Wildcats had only that one shot to their tally through the first 28 minutes.
The Lancers, on the other hand, fired off three shots in a six-minute span, including a pair of attempts from Rosalie Gefrorer.
IWU’s offense was at its most dangerous to end the half with three shots and a corner over the closing 10 minutes.
But neither side could find a go-ahead goal in the first 45 minutes as the match was scoreless at the intermission.
Fifteen minutes into the second half, Grace produced a series of chances on the Wildcats’ goal.
Cassidy Felger shot high in the 61st minute, which was followed quickly by two corner kicks.
In the 64th minute, Madelief Lowik had a shot that was saved.
Four minutes later, two quick attempts from Abby Hodkin and Rylee Burns were also thwarted.
The Wildcats responded just five minutes afterwards with the decisive moment. Mackenzie Minney produced the game’s only goal in the 73rd minute. It was IWU’s first shot in nearly 20 minutes of play.
Grace struggled to find a response on offense and had to settle for the defeat.
IWU held a slight 10-8 advantage in shot attempts in the match. Sofia Williams made three saves in goal for Grace.
The Lancers remain on the road Saturday for another ranked match. Grace will travel to No. 10 Marian for a 2 p.m. showdown with the Knights.

No. 14 Grace Wins Eighth Straight, Sweeps No. 22 MU
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The red-hot Grace volleyball squad continued its winning ways, securing yet another NAIA Top-25 victory on Wednesday.
The No. 14 Lancers won their eighth-straight match, sweeping No. 22 Marian on the road.
Grace (14-2, 8-1 Crossroads League) now has four ranked wins away from home.
The Lancers were efficient on all fronts during Wednesday’s road sweep. The Lancers racked up 45 assists on a .194 percentage while holding the Knights (15-4, 6-3 CL) to a .094 percentage.
For an individual highlight, Morgan Syoen recorded the 2,000th assist of her career. She is the seventh Lancer to reach that mark in program history.
The first set was close through the midway mark. Grace then erupted with a key 7-0 run. Anna Ballengee had two kills during the run, and Liz Schmidt aced as Grace led 21-16.
The Knights pulled back within two, but Grace closed out the 25-22 win thanks to timely kills from Jadyn Ross, Livia Tate and Anna Elkin.
Grace’s offense soared in the opener with 16 kills on a .244 percentage.
In the second set, Grace used a 6-0 spurt to earn a four-point cushion. Emma Blackford was a spark with aces on two straight serves.
The Knights stayed close, however, and managed to take a two-point lead in the closing stages. Marian served for the set at 24-23, but Elkin produced a kill on the next rally to force extra points.
Grace turned to its upperclassmen next, and they delivered. Ballengee and Alisha Voss recorded kills on the following two plays, handing Grace a 26-24 win.
Momentum seemed firmly in Grace’s corner as the match reached a third set. Grace skipped ahead by the count of 5-1.
The Lancers kept a sizable lead over the Knights throughout the set. Ross ended the match with a kill on the final play, wrapping up the 25-19 win for the road sweep.
Voss impressed with nine kills on a .421 percentage to go along with 3 solo blocks, 1 block assist and 6 digs.
Ballengee claimed match honors with 12 kills to lead all players, hitting at a .290 percentage.
Tate had five kills with three block assists, and Ross ended with five kills and two block assists.
Syoen collected 22 assists, 7 digs and 1 ace on her milestone evening, and Riley Owens added 13 assists with eight digs.
Elkin pounded out nine kills, and Sahara Bee added five.
Defensively, Grace’s back row was balanced. Olivia Martinez led the team with nine digs, and Liz Schmidt and McKenzie Stakely had eight digs.
The Lancers end the week with three matches in Fort Wayne. Grace will play Lindsey Wilson, who is receiving votes in the NAIA, on Friday at 7 p.m. Saturday sees Grace take on Cornerstone and Indiana Tech.