Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
FRANKLIN - The Grace College men's soccer team jumped on Franklin early Tuesday, scoring twice in the first five minutes in a 5-1 win.
Dan Ropte, a Warsaw Community High School graduate, scored three minutes into the action and Jonathan Cline scored two minutes later to put Grace up 2-0. Ropte scored again late in the first half to give the Lancers a 3-0 lead at the break.
In the second half, Jeremy Bury scored to make it 4-0, and after a Franklin goal, Aaron Hood closed out the scoring for the Lancers with five minutes to play.
The Lancers improved to 4-1 with the victory, just one win short of last year's season total. Grace is ranked fifth in Region VIII of the NAIA. Grace didn't pick up it's fourth win last year until the 16th game of the season. The Lancers won just three games two years ago.
Grace (4-1, 1-0 MCC) will host Trinity International Saturday at 1 p.m. Franklin drops to 0-3 with the loss.
GRACE 5, FRANKLIN 1
Grace 3 2 - 5
Franklin 0 0 - 0
Grace scoring - 1. Grace, Dan Ropte (Steve Muldoon assist), 3:00; 2. Grace, Jonathan Cline (Muldoon assist), 5:00; 3. Grace, Ropte (Ben Shoup assist), 41:00; 4. Grace, Jeremy Bury (Thom Newhard assist), 60:00; 5. Franklin, Joseph Tooley (penalty kick), 70:00; 6. Grace, Aaron Hood (Cline assist), 85:00
Shots on goal - Grace 18, Franklin 10. Saves - Kevin Smith (Franklin) 16, Jon Hoover (Grace) 9.
GOSHEN 1, MANCHESTER 0
Wednesday in Goshen
The Manchester men's soccer team traveled to Goshen Tuesday and fell to the Maple Leafs 1-0 in overtime. The Sparteans are 0-5 and host Rose-Hulman Saturday at noon.
Manchester leader -ÊJ. Eshleman 9 saves
WOMEN'S SOCCER
Bethel 3, Grace 1
Wednesday in Winona Lake
The Grace College women's soccer team owned much of Wednesday's Mid-Central Conference match with Bethel, outshooting the Pilots 19-11 for the game. However, Bethel came up with quality opportunities to defeat Grace 3-1 for the first time in the five-year rivalry of the programs.
Bethel's Leah Hoover scored on breakaways twice, the first coming early in the first half and the second coming with 1:42 to play in the game to seal the win.
Freshman Laurie McClure scored her second goal of the season for the Lancers on an assists from Ellen Kegarise with seven minutes to play in the first half to tie the game at 1-1. However Hannah Drye scored less than two minutes later to give the Pilots a 2-1 halftime lead.
Erin Palladay made 12 saves for Bethel, while Hannah Loss had five for Grace.
Bethel improves to 3-2 overall and 1-0 in the MCC, while Grace falls to 1-4 and 0-2. Grace will host NAIA No. 13 Trinity International Saturday in a doubleheader. The men will host Trinity International at 1 p.m. and the women will follow at 3 p.m.
BETHEL 3, GRACE 1
Bethel 2 1 - 3
Grace 1 0 - 1
Grace leaders -ÊLaurie McClure 1 goal, Ellen Kegarise 1 assist
Shots -ÊGrace 19, Bethel 11; Seves -ÊErin Palladay (Bethel) 12, Hannah Loss (Grace) 5
WOMEN'S TENNIS
MANCHESTER 9, BLUFFTON 0
Wednesday in North Manchester
The women's tennis team improved to 3-2 overall in the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference by defeating conference opponent Bluffton Wednesday. Winning in singles action for Manchester were Amy Marks, Kari Awald, Chelle Blackburn, Dixie Romer Erin Weissert and Wendy Tilden. n Doubles action, the duos of Blackburn and Romer, Awald and Weissert and Tilden and Weissert earned wins as well. The Spartans return to action Saturday when they host the MC Doubles Classic at 10 a.m.
VOLLEYBALL
MANCHESTER COLLEGE def. HUNTINGTON COLLEGE 14-16, 15-12, 15-8, 15-5, 15-12
Wednesday in Huntington
The Manchester volleyball team picked up its first win of the season Wednesday by defeating Huntington 14-16, 15-12, 15-8, 15-5, 15-12. Tippecanoe Valley graduate Jennifer Studebaker had 14 kills, three solo blocks and three digs for the Spartans, while Emily Pilgrim had 16 kills and 15 digs and Abby Schmidt had 43 assists on the night. The win is the first collegiate victory for first-year coach Heidi Lombardo.
