Lancer Soccer Teams Pick Up Lopsided Wins
September 30, 2022 at 1:51 a.m.
Lancer Soccer Teams Pick Up Lopsided Wins
By Josh Neuhart-
Felipe Gruber and Martim Sequeira each netted two goals in the victory, and Blake Burns scored in his second consecutive game.
The Lancers (7-0-3, 2-0 Crossroads League) have now gone unbeaten through their first ten games of the season. It matches the longest season opening unbeaten streak in program history, a mark which was set in 1976.
Despite not scoring until the second half, Grace seemed to control the pace of play from the onset.
The Lancers had four shots in the first half and held possession of the ball for a convincing portion. The Cougars (7-3-1, 0-2-0 CL) were limited to just two shots in the opening half.
Gruber nearly broke the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes when a set piece opportunity forced a diving save.
Juan Camilo Garcia had a chance from 15 yards out, but his shot was chipped over the crossbar as the game entered the break still scoreless.
The Lancers out shot the Cougars 4-2 in the first half and had four corner kick opportunities.
Grace’s dominant possession continued in the second half as the Lancers offensive prowess started to overwhelm the Cougars. The Lancers scored all five of their goals in a 13:21 stretch.
Grace’s first tally came courtesy of a penalty kick. Scanferlato Simone earned the Penalty after he had a point-blank chance nullified by an illegal tackle. Gruber then buried the PK to push Grace ahead 1-0.
Flavio Cruz and Juan Camilo Garcia set up Grace’s second goal just 40 seconds later. After receiving the ball from Camilo Garcia, Cruz sent a long cross into the box and a streaking Sequeira headed in the goal to double the Lancers lead.
Six minutes elapsed before Grace found the back of the net again. Burns and Frederik Christmann used tactical passing to create the scoring chance and Gruber slipped the ball past the USF keeper for his second goal of the match.
Not to be outdone, Sequeira also netted his second of the game just three minutes later.
Grace was awarded a corner kick which Camilo Garcia sent into the box to Diogo Lopes who masterfully headed it back to Sequeira for the Lancers fourth goal.
The final tally of the match was scored after an aggressive counter attack. Christmann forced the Cougars into a turnover and Kyle Holwerda pushed the offense forward before finding Burns whose shot beat the keeper for the final tally of the match.
The goal scoring barrage came to an end with 19:09 left in the game and left little time for the Cougars to muster an attack as Grace went home with the convincing victory.
Matteo Conci picked up the win and made three saves. Lopes and Burns each scored and added an assist, while Camilo Garcia and Christmann both had two helpers.
Grace’s next action will take place in Michigan as the Lancers travel north to take on Spring Arbor.
Grace Handles USF With Four Goals
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s women’s soccer team impressed on Wednesday with a 4-0 rout over St. Francis.
The No. 20 Lady Lancers (6-2-1, 1-1 Crossroads League) were poised and in control for the entirety of the match, earning their fifth shutout of the season. Grace used scoring from four different players in the victory.
Grace controlled the ball and possession for nearly the entirety of the opening half. The Lady Lancers did not struggle to find chances and kept USF pinned back into their defensive end.
Five minutes in, Grace earned an early chance. Madison Tuma tried a shot from outside the box that whizzed by the goalpost.
More early chances from JJ Aalbue and a pair from Marlene Menzel were also fired hard but off target. Danae Moriarty and Lea Moessinger tried more early attempts that were saved.
USF rarely had a moment to advance against Grace’s possession, and the Lady Lancers continued to pile up chances in the half.
Aalbue won a ball in a dangerous position and crossed into the middle of the field. The ball redirected off Danae Moriarty and glanced off the crossbar.
Aalbue’s passing nearly created another goal a few minutes later. Her corner kick connected with a header from Tuma. Tuma’s headed effort beat the goalkeeper but glanced harmlessly off the post again.
The go-ahead moment came with 13 minutes left in the half. Bettin and Aalbue combined for a clever give and go, leaving Bettin alone with the Cougars’ goalkeeper. Bettin made good on her chance, placing her shot beyond the keeper for the opening goal.
The Lady Lancers continued to threaten in the half but had to settle for the 1-0 lead at halftime.
Grace outshot USF 18-2 in the half, including seven shots on goal. Moriarty, Tuma and Aalbue all had four shots apiece.
The second half began with continued fluid possession from Grace but fewer chances. The Lady Lancers were held to two shots over the first 10 minutes. But Grace doubled its lead shortly after.
Moriarty intercepted a pass, then curled her shot past the outstretched goalkeeper’s arms for a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute.
Twelve minutes later, Grace found its third goal. Lea Fricke tried a long shot that hit the crossbar. In the ensuing scramble, a Cougar touched the ball in the box which resulted in a penalty kick.
Aalbue stepped up and buried the PK, pushing Grace’s lead to 3-0.
The fourth and final goal came in the final minutes. Ashley VandenBoom carried the ball against the Cougars’ defense. She then played a pass into the box toward Filipa Marques, who drilled her shot into the top corner of the net from a difficult angle.
Several subs were active offensively for Grace in the closing minutes, including moments from Shannon Farnsworth, Tori Twombly and Rebecca Steininger.
Grace finished the goal with a dominant 31-3 advantage in shot attempts, taking 13 shots on goal.
Libby Stratton registered the shutout in goal. She was protected by Erin Crew, Lilli Oberhoff, Lucy Schmitt, Luna Gianotti, Izzy Fenn, Kimberly Aalbue and Helena Vieira Rijo.
The Lady Lancers will be back home on Saturday for a high-profile Homecoming game at 1st Source Bank Field. No. 20 Grace will host No. 2 Spring Arbor for a 1:30 p.m. match.
Men’s Soccer Makes History With Ranking
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s men’s soccer team achieved a pair of top ratings from the NAIA in the latest poll releases.
The Lancers continued to improve in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll. After besting Marian 2-0, Grace moved up one spot to No. 7, the highest in recorded program history.
The Crossroads League boasts three teams in the top 25 as Bethel (No. 12) and IWU (No. 22) join the Lancers.
In the first release of the NAIA Modified Ratings Percentage Index, Grace achieved its first top 5 rating in program history.
The Lancers landed at No. 5 in the MRPI, which will be used at the conclusion of the season to help determine at-large bids and seeding for the NAIA national tournament.
Felipe Gruber and Martim Sequeira each netted two goals in the victory, and Blake Burns scored in his second consecutive game.
The Lancers (7-0-3, 2-0 Crossroads League) have now gone unbeaten through their first ten games of the season. It matches the longest season opening unbeaten streak in program history, a mark which was set in 1976.
Despite not scoring until the second half, Grace seemed to control the pace of play from the onset.
The Lancers had four shots in the first half and held possession of the ball for a convincing portion. The Cougars (7-3-1, 0-2-0 CL) were limited to just two shots in the opening half.
Gruber nearly broke the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes when a set piece opportunity forced a diving save.
Juan Camilo Garcia had a chance from 15 yards out, but his shot was chipped over the crossbar as the game entered the break still scoreless.
The Lancers out shot the Cougars 4-2 in the first half and had four corner kick opportunities.
Grace’s dominant possession continued in the second half as the Lancers offensive prowess started to overwhelm the Cougars. The Lancers scored all five of their goals in a 13:21 stretch.
Grace’s first tally came courtesy of a penalty kick. Scanferlato Simone earned the Penalty after he had a point-blank chance nullified by an illegal tackle. Gruber then buried the PK to push Grace ahead 1-0.
Flavio Cruz and Juan Camilo Garcia set up Grace’s second goal just 40 seconds later. After receiving the ball from Camilo Garcia, Cruz sent a long cross into the box and a streaking Sequeira headed in the goal to double the Lancers lead.
Six minutes elapsed before Grace found the back of the net again. Burns and Frederik Christmann used tactical passing to create the scoring chance and Gruber slipped the ball past the USF keeper for his second goal of the match.
Not to be outdone, Sequeira also netted his second of the game just three minutes later.
Grace was awarded a corner kick which Camilo Garcia sent into the box to Diogo Lopes who masterfully headed it back to Sequeira for the Lancers fourth goal.
The final tally of the match was scored after an aggressive counter attack. Christmann forced the Cougars into a turnover and Kyle Holwerda pushed the offense forward before finding Burns whose shot beat the keeper for the final tally of the match.
The goal scoring barrage came to an end with 19:09 left in the game and left little time for the Cougars to muster an attack as Grace went home with the convincing victory.
Matteo Conci picked up the win and made three saves. Lopes and Burns each scored and added an assist, while Camilo Garcia and Christmann both had two helpers.
Grace’s next action will take place in Michigan as the Lancers travel north to take on Spring Arbor.
Grace Handles USF With Four Goals
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s women’s soccer team impressed on Wednesday with a 4-0 rout over St. Francis.
The No. 20 Lady Lancers (6-2-1, 1-1 Crossroads League) were poised and in control for the entirety of the match, earning their fifth shutout of the season. Grace used scoring from four different players in the victory.
Grace controlled the ball and possession for nearly the entirety of the opening half. The Lady Lancers did not struggle to find chances and kept USF pinned back into their defensive end.
Five minutes in, Grace earned an early chance. Madison Tuma tried a shot from outside the box that whizzed by the goalpost.
More early chances from JJ Aalbue and a pair from Marlene Menzel were also fired hard but off target. Danae Moriarty and Lea Moessinger tried more early attempts that were saved.
USF rarely had a moment to advance against Grace’s possession, and the Lady Lancers continued to pile up chances in the half.
Aalbue won a ball in a dangerous position and crossed into the middle of the field. The ball redirected off Danae Moriarty and glanced off the crossbar.
Aalbue’s passing nearly created another goal a few minutes later. Her corner kick connected with a header from Tuma. Tuma’s headed effort beat the goalkeeper but glanced harmlessly off the post again.
The go-ahead moment came with 13 minutes left in the half. Bettin and Aalbue combined for a clever give and go, leaving Bettin alone with the Cougars’ goalkeeper. Bettin made good on her chance, placing her shot beyond the keeper for the opening goal.
The Lady Lancers continued to threaten in the half but had to settle for the 1-0 lead at halftime.
Grace outshot USF 18-2 in the half, including seven shots on goal. Moriarty, Tuma and Aalbue all had four shots apiece.
The second half began with continued fluid possession from Grace but fewer chances. The Lady Lancers were held to two shots over the first 10 minutes. But Grace doubled its lead shortly after.
Moriarty intercepted a pass, then curled her shot past the outstretched goalkeeper’s arms for a 2-0 lead in the 57th minute.
Twelve minutes later, Grace found its third goal. Lea Fricke tried a long shot that hit the crossbar. In the ensuing scramble, a Cougar touched the ball in the box which resulted in a penalty kick.
Aalbue stepped up and buried the PK, pushing Grace’s lead to 3-0.
The fourth and final goal came in the final minutes. Ashley VandenBoom carried the ball against the Cougars’ defense. She then played a pass into the box toward Filipa Marques, who drilled her shot into the top corner of the net from a difficult angle.
Several subs were active offensively for Grace in the closing minutes, including moments from Shannon Farnsworth, Tori Twombly and Rebecca Steininger.
Grace finished the goal with a dominant 31-3 advantage in shot attempts, taking 13 shots on goal.
Libby Stratton registered the shutout in goal. She was protected by Erin Crew, Lilli Oberhoff, Lucy Schmitt, Luna Gianotti, Izzy Fenn, Kimberly Aalbue and Helena Vieira Rijo.
The Lady Lancers will be back home on Saturday for a high-profile Homecoming game at 1st Source Bank Field. No. 20 Grace will host No. 2 Spring Arbor for a 1:30 p.m. match.
Men’s Soccer Makes History With Ranking
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s men’s soccer team achieved a pair of top ratings from the NAIA in the latest poll releases.
The Lancers continued to improve in the NAIA Top 25 Coaches Poll. After besting Marian 2-0, Grace moved up one spot to No. 7, the highest in recorded program history.
The Crossroads League boasts three teams in the top 25 as Bethel (No. 12) and IWU (No. 22) join the Lancers.
In the first release of the NAIA Modified Ratings Percentage Index, Grace achieved its first top 5 rating in program history.
The Lancers landed at No. 5 in the MRPI, which will be used at the conclusion of the season to help determine at-large bids and seeding for the NAIA national tournament.
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