Grace College Roundup: Lancers Win Home Opener
August 31, 2017 at 4:09 p.m.
Grace College Roundup: Lancers Win Home Opener
By Josh Neuhart-
Nikola Djordjevic scored in the opening minutes of the second half for the Lancers (2-1-1), and Shemar DeGannes secured the 2-0 win with a goal in the 90th minute.
Wednesday’s match was the team’s home opener at 1st Source Bank Field. The match was also Grace’s fourth contest in a six-day span, capping off what is likely the most grueling stretch of the team’s season.
“I am extremely proud of the guys’ effort tonight. Four games in six days takes a toll on your body and mind. That, coupled with the fact that these are the first weeks of school, really put pressure on our guys to step up and perform,” said Grace head coach Matt Hotchkin. “It was great to get a win at home, and we look to continue building and improving with every practice and game.”
The first half was back and forth between the sides. Each team took its share of dangerous chances, including three early shots by Grace.
One of Grace’s best opportunities in the first half came from the foot of Colin Cape. The midfielder sent a looping pass toward Ulisses Miranda, who was sprinting at the goal. The ball fell perfectly to Miranda, but Miranda’s one-time volley was off the mark.
With four minutes left in the half, the Trojans (0-4) nearly took advantage of a defensive miscue to score. Trinity had a breakaway en route to Grace’s goal, but goalkeeper Kurt Hamlin timed his tackle perfectly to snuff out a potential scoring play.
The teams went into halftime scoreless, despite Grace owning an 8-3 shot advantage. The Trojans had all five corner kicks of the period.
It did not take long for Grace to grab momentum of the match for good in the second half. Just two minutes into the half, Thomas Tydeman sparked Grace’s attack with a sliding tackle to win back possession. Tydeman advanced the ball and passed to Marcelo Talamas at the top of the penalty box. Tamales laid off a pass to Nikola Djordjevic, and the burly junior beat the Trojans’ goalkeeper with a 20-yard shot to the far post.
For the rest of the half, Grace focused on building its possession and limiting dangerous chances for the Trojans.
Trinity was held to four shots in the 45-minute period and had few truly threatening periods.
Grace put the exclamation point on the win in the last minute. The Lancers, taking advantage of an exposed backline for the Trojans, scored in the last 30 seconds.
Damon Binkley stole a dribble from the Trojans and started a quick counterattack. He found DeGannes open on the left side of the penalty box, and the freshman poked in his first career goal to the right post.
Talamas, Miranda, Cape and Binkley all had three shots. Hamlin was defended well to record the shutout in goal. His defenders Joshua Coupar, Tydeman, Nathan Harte, Josiah Osborn and Gabriel Osti held the Trojans in check.
“I thought that Nikola showed a lot of composure tonight, and Marcelo laid off a perfect ball to him to finish the goal,” Hotchkin said. “I think our man of the match was either Marcelo or Colin Cape. Colin did not get a rest all night, and he covered a lot of ground. He had pinpoint accuracy on his longer passes. We had a lot of guys who saw action tonight who gave us quality minutes.”
The Lancers enjoy a lengthy break from games. Grace is not back in action until Sept. 9 at Aquinas. The Lancers return home on Sept. 30 for the Crossroads League opener against Bethel.
VOLLEYBALL
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s volleyball team impressed in its Crossroads League opener, beating Taylor 3-2 on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers (6-3, 1-0 CL) used balanced production and an unexpected freshman contribution to upend the Trojans at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Freshman Lexy Oppenhuis came off the bench to lead Grace in kills, providing 14 kills including several in the decisive fifth set.
The Trojans (3-2, 0-1 CL) began the match sharply, winning 25-15 in a lopsided first set.
Grace showed fight in the second set to even the match. The Lady Lancers trailed 18-13 but rallied with six straight points, including two aces from Tori Bontrager and two blocks from Kari Feddema and Sierra Smith. Grace narrowly pulled off the second set win 26-24.
Grace needed another rally in the third set after staring at a 14-7 deficit. Like the previous set, Bontrager had two well-timed aces to give Grace a spark, and Feddema provided a pair of kills and a block to help the hosts back into the lead. Oppenhuis ended the set with a kill, giving Grace a 25-23 win.
Taylor found revenge in the fourth, holding onto another early lead to win 25-21.
The fifth set proved to be a mismatch. Oppenhuis began the game with a kill and could not be contained. The freshman racked up six kills in the game en route to a 15-7 victory. Oppenhuis had a part in six of the final seven points for Grace, including five kills and a block assist.
Oppenhuis’s breakout contest of 14 kills came on a .310 hitting percentage to go along with two block assists.
Feddema was the other Lady Lancer in double-digit kills, producing 10 kills with five block assists.
Alexa Hill, the two-time reigning league Setter of the Week, racked up a double-double of 47 assists and 15 digs. Sara Miller led all players with 19 digs, Caylie Teel added 13 digs, and Gina Novotny chipped in with eight digs.
Bontrager finished with a well-rounded statline of 6 kills, 5 digs and 4 aces, and Marta Bleed tallied eight kills.
The Lady Lancers continue play on Sept. 6 at Marian University.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
GOSHEN – Little resistance was found for Grace’s women’s tennis team on Wednesday in the Crossroads League opener.
The Lady Lancers blanked Goshen 9-0 on the road, only dropping one game across all matches.
The Maple Leafs started in a deficit as a lack of eligible players forced forfeits at No. 5 and 6 singles and No. 3 doubles. As a result, Shelby Bankson and Briana Diehl earned free wins for the Lady Lancers (2-0, 1-0 CL).
Emily Mast at No. 1 singles was perfect with a 6-0, 6-0 win. Jenna Jackson at No. 3 singles and Molly Fitzpatrick at No. 4 were also spotless on the scoresheet.
Additionally, Carrie Copeland won easily at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles’ play, Copeland and Mast claimed an 8-0 win at No. 1 doubles, and Fitzpatrick and Jackson teamed up for the same scoreline at No. 2.
“Our ladies came in and did what they needed to pick up our first conference win of the year,” said Grace head coach Marcus Moore. “I was pleased with their focus today.”
The Lady Lancers travel to Valparaiso for a 4 p.m. match today. On Saturday, Grace returns to Miller Field for an 11 a.m. contest against Huntington.
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Nikola Djordjevic scored in the opening minutes of the second half for the Lancers (2-1-1), and Shemar DeGannes secured the 2-0 win with a goal in the 90th minute.
Wednesday’s match was the team’s home opener at 1st Source Bank Field. The match was also Grace’s fourth contest in a six-day span, capping off what is likely the most grueling stretch of the team’s season.
“I am extremely proud of the guys’ effort tonight. Four games in six days takes a toll on your body and mind. That, coupled with the fact that these are the first weeks of school, really put pressure on our guys to step up and perform,” said Grace head coach Matt Hotchkin. “It was great to get a win at home, and we look to continue building and improving with every practice and game.”
The first half was back and forth between the sides. Each team took its share of dangerous chances, including three early shots by Grace.
One of Grace’s best opportunities in the first half came from the foot of Colin Cape. The midfielder sent a looping pass toward Ulisses Miranda, who was sprinting at the goal. The ball fell perfectly to Miranda, but Miranda’s one-time volley was off the mark.
With four minutes left in the half, the Trojans (0-4) nearly took advantage of a defensive miscue to score. Trinity had a breakaway en route to Grace’s goal, but goalkeeper Kurt Hamlin timed his tackle perfectly to snuff out a potential scoring play.
The teams went into halftime scoreless, despite Grace owning an 8-3 shot advantage. The Trojans had all five corner kicks of the period.
It did not take long for Grace to grab momentum of the match for good in the second half. Just two minutes into the half, Thomas Tydeman sparked Grace’s attack with a sliding tackle to win back possession. Tydeman advanced the ball and passed to Marcelo Talamas at the top of the penalty box. Tamales laid off a pass to Nikola Djordjevic, and the burly junior beat the Trojans’ goalkeeper with a 20-yard shot to the far post.
For the rest of the half, Grace focused on building its possession and limiting dangerous chances for the Trojans.
Trinity was held to four shots in the 45-minute period and had few truly threatening periods.
Grace put the exclamation point on the win in the last minute. The Lancers, taking advantage of an exposed backline for the Trojans, scored in the last 30 seconds.
Damon Binkley stole a dribble from the Trojans and started a quick counterattack. He found DeGannes open on the left side of the penalty box, and the freshman poked in his first career goal to the right post.
Talamas, Miranda, Cape and Binkley all had three shots. Hamlin was defended well to record the shutout in goal. His defenders Joshua Coupar, Tydeman, Nathan Harte, Josiah Osborn and Gabriel Osti held the Trojans in check.
“I thought that Nikola showed a lot of composure tonight, and Marcelo laid off a perfect ball to him to finish the goal,” Hotchkin said. “I think our man of the match was either Marcelo or Colin Cape. Colin did not get a rest all night, and he covered a lot of ground. He had pinpoint accuracy on his longer passes. We had a lot of guys who saw action tonight who gave us quality minutes.”
The Lancers enjoy a lengthy break from games. Grace is not back in action until Sept. 9 at Aquinas. The Lancers return home on Sept. 30 for the Crossroads League opener against Bethel.
VOLLEYBALL
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s volleyball team impressed in its Crossroads League opener, beating Taylor 3-2 on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers (6-3, 1-0 CL) used balanced production and an unexpected freshman contribution to upend the Trojans at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center.
Freshman Lexy Oppenhuis came off the bench to lead Grace in kills, providing 14 kills including several in the decisive fifth set.
The Trojans (3-2, 0-1 CL) began the match sharply, winning 25-15 in a lopsided first set.
Grace showed fight in the second set to even the match. The Lady Lancers trailed 18-13 but rallied with six straight points, including two aces from Tori Bontrager and two blocks from Kari Feddema and Sierra Smith. Grace narrowly pulled off the second set win 26-24.
Grace needed another rally in the third set after staring at a 14-7 deficit. Like the previous set, Bontrager had two well-timed aces to give Grace a spark, and Feddema provided a pair of kills and a block to help the hosts back into the lead. Oppenhuis ended the set with a kill, giving Grace a 25-23 win.
Taylor found revenge in the fourth, holding onto another early lead to win 25-21.
The fifth set proved to be a mismatch. Oppenhuis began the game with a kill and could not be contained. The freshman racked up six kills in the game en route to a 15-7 victory. Oppenhuis had a part in six of the final seven points for Grace, including five kills and a block assist.
Oppenhuis’s breakout contest of 14 kills came on a .310 hitting percentage to go along with two block assists.
Feddema was the other Lady Lancer in double-digit kills, producing 10 kills with five block assists.
Alexa Hill, the two-time reigning league Setter of the Week, racked up a double-double of 47 assists and 15 digs. Sara Miller led all players with 19 digs, Caylie Teel added 13 digs, and Gina Novotny chipped in with eight digs.
Bontrager finished with a well-rounded statline of 6 kills, 5 digs and 4 aces, and Marta Bleed tallied eight kills.
The Lady Lancers continue play on Sept. 6 at Marian University.
WOMEN’S TENNIS
GOSHEN – Little resistance was found for Grace’s women’s tennis team on Wednesday in the Crossroads League opener.
The Lady Lancers blanked Goshen 9-0 on the road, only dropping one game across all matches.
The Maple Leafs started in a deficit as a lack of eligible players forced forfeits at No. 5 and 6 singles and No. 3 doubles. As a result, Shelby Bankson and Briana Diehl earned free wins for the Lady Lancers (2-0, 1-0 CL).
Emily Mast at No. 1 singles was perfect with a 6-0, 6-0 win. Jenna Jackson at No. 3 singles and Molly Fitzpatrick at No. 4 were also spotless on the scoresheet.
Additionally, Carrie Copeland won easily at No. 2 singles 6-1, 6-0.
In doubles’ play, Copeland and Mast claimed an 8-0 win at No. 1 doubles, and Fitzpatrick and Jackson teamed up for the same scoreline at No. 2.
“Our ladies came in and did what they needed to pick up our first conference win of the year,” said Grace head coach Marcus Moore. “I was pleased with their focus today.”
The Lady Lancers travel to Valparaiso for a 4 p.m. match today. On Saturday, Grace returns to Miller Field for an 11 a.m. contest against Huntington.
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