WICHITA, Kan. - The incredible season from Grace’s men’s soccer team came to a close on Tuesday at the NAIA National Championships.
The Lancers lost 3-2 to No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene in the NAIA Round of 16, ending the season with a sterling 15-5-2 record.
The Lancers fell behind just before halftime but would not go down without a fight. Grace scored twice in the second half, but the Pioneers had the final say in a dramatic five-goal affair.
Tuesday’s match was played indoors due to snow in the area. It was also a rematch of a contest on Nov. 2, which MNU won 2-1 in Kansas.
The Pioneers began the match with confidence and limited Grace’s time on the ball. The Lancers prevented MNU from any clear chances to score for most of the half, however.
Grace nearly broke through 27 minutes into the match. Martim Sequeira almost connected with a well-timed through pass for a breakaway, but the Pioneers’ defense scrambled to snuff out the Lancers’ chance.
MNU threatened in the penalty box a few times, but a couple of headed shots went wide of the net.
The first half seemed destined to be scoreless as halftime approached, but the Pioneers managed to squeeze in a goal with less than a minute remaining. After a turnover in the midfield, the Pioneers quickly raced down the field and scored from a central position.
The Pioneers led 1-0 at the intermission, holding a 9-0 advantage in shots.
MNU picked up where the team left off, trying two more quick shots to begin the second half.
Sixteen minutes into the second half, the Pioneers seized control. MNU passed the ball through the heart of the field and calmly scored an unmarked goal in the penalty box to go ahead 2-0.
But the Lancers responded bravely just two minutes later to pull themselves back into the game. Sequeira finished off a cross into the box from Joao Sousa, cutting the deficit in half at 2-1. It was Sequeira’s 21st goal of his campaign.
Grace remained on its front foot and continued to apply pressure on the Pioneers.
But while Grace pressed ahead in pursuit of an equalizer, the Pioneers picked a perfect time to counterattack. MNU countered ruthlessly, putting the team’s third goal into the back of the net in the 77th minute.
The Lancers did not surrender, however. With just over five minutes remaining, Sequeira stole a pass in the penalty box and squared a pass in front of the net. Daniel Santos Rosa connected with the pass and pounded his shot past the goalkeeper to bring Grace within one at 3-2.
Grace did its best to conjure another late goal, but the Pioneers’ defense kept the Lancers from scoring again.
The Lancers end their season with the deepest NAIA tournament run in team history (Sweet 16). The team was ranked in the NAIA’s top-10 for much of the season, earning the No. 3 seed in the NAIA tournament (highest in team history).