THE OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 2-1 Bethany Lutheran
• Venue: BLC Soccer Field
• Attendance: 85
• Record: Sabercats are now 8-8
• Next Game for MBU: Tuesday, October 24 at 3:30 p.m. vs Lawrence

THE LEAD

MANKATO, Minn. -- The Sabercats concluded their Minnesota trip on a high note thanks to a couple of goals from 4-year seniors and a lights-out goalkeeping performance from Andrew Taylor.

Matthew Sheeley scored his first collegiate goal in the first half, then Daniel Kroll added his third goal of the season in the second half to seal the hard-fought win over the spirited Vikings.

THE STORY

The match yielded a cagey opening, but Bethany created a few chances early and looked the most threatening. The Sabercats began to establish a rhythm, however, and after he found space in the midfield, Calvin Perkins threaded a pass between two BLC defenders to set up Sheeley in the left side of the penalty area. Sheeley showed aplomb from about 15 yards out, as he touched the ball to his right before finishing in the far corner.

The Sabercats held the lead and the momentum going into the second half, and they kept the pressure on the Vikings throughout the first part of the period. Eric Fausto created a couple of chances from the left wing, and the pressure soon paid off. After Brett Cournoyer won a ball at the top of the box, Tyler Nelson took a shot that was saved by the BLC goalkeeper. The rebound fell to Kroll, who calmly buried it in the open net to extend the lead.

From then on, the Vikings looked menacing, but Taylor was up to the task.

Taylor was called upon to make 5 saves in the last 25 minutes to keep the lead intact. Taylor made a couple of diving saves to his left to deny a dangerous-looking Bethany front line, and he did well to catch a hard-hit shot that was going into the roof of the net. 

Taylor would be beaten eventually, but only from the penalty spot. The lead stood until 2 minutes from time, when BLC's Jonathan Selhoff buried the penalty kick in the top-left corner.

But it was too little, too late, as the Sabercats closed out the game from that point on.

THE NUMBERS

Taylor finished the day with 12 saves, 7 of which came in the second half.

The Vikings fired 13 shots on goal to the Sabercats' 7.

Kroll and Nelson both had 2 shots on goal.

This was the first ever meeting between Maranatha and Bethany Lutheran.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats will host Lawrence University Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. in the final game of the regular season. Catch the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.