WATERTOWN, Wis. -- It was a closer game than the score indicated, as the Sabercats fell in a tough 5-2 loss to Martin Luther College today to open home games for 2023.

Michael Doese scored both goals for Maranatha, netting his first collegiate goal to tie the game in the first half. Martin Luther scored two from the penalty spot and used a Sabercats' own goal to get ahead in the contest.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 2-5 Martin Luther
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis. 
• Event: Home Opener
• Attendance: 349
• Record: MBU (0-2-0), MLC (1-1-0) 

STORY

It was a capacity crowd on the MBU campus, as the Sabercats and Knights fought early on for control - a battle that the Knights quickly gained the upper hand on. Nathan Pausma scored the opening goal just two minutes in, touching home a goal from a Josiah Wordell cross. Right away, the visitors had made a statement.

Doese opened his collegiate scoring account just before the 23-minute mark, as he headed home from close range after Joseph Greene flicked the ball with his heel over the goalkeeper into the path of the oncoming Doese.

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But just as soon as the Sabercats earned the momentum, they gave it back to the visitors, as Isaiah Santos broke behind the Sabercats' back line and finished his breakaway attempt. At halftime, the Sabercats were right in the game, and it looked like it could go either way.

But Martin Luther took the wind out of the Sabercats' second-half sails, scoring a penalty kick just two minutes into the second half. Just like the first half, the Sabercats conceded early and were once again squarely on the back foot.

The Knights earned another penalty kick in the 69th minute, and just like he did with the first one, Josiah Wordell stepped up and buried the attempt to give Martin Luther a convincing 4-1 lead. The visitors added one just a minute and a half later off a Sabercats' own goal, and it looked to be a day where nothing was bouncing right for Maranatha.

Doese provided a bright spot with a goal with just over a minute left in the game. Mike Davis played an intelligent pass from a free kick behind the Knights' back line, and Doese slammed home a one-touch finish to make it 5-2.

The loss is the Sabercats' second of the week, and they will look ahead to next Tuesday when they host Lakeland University in their second consecutive home game.

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Maranatha Starters: 00- Balyo, 2- T. Holloway, 3- Doese, 7- Lemon, 8- Davis (C), 9- Wright (C), 11- Beachell, 12- Greene, 16- Kirchner, 18- Mixell, 23- Perkins

STATS

• Shot count: Maranatha 12-19 Martin Luther
• Doese: first career goals
• Davis: first assist of the season
• Last time: Maranatha fell to Martin Luther 1-2 in Watertown on September 3, 2022
• Series: Maranatha leads the old all-time series against Northwestern 25-2-1*, but trails 0-2-0 against Martin Luther

*Northwestern College had its campus in Watertown before merging with Dr. Martin Luther College in 1995

OPPONENTS

• Martin Luther competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA-Dlll)
• Martin Luther finished the 2022 season with a record of 3-14-2

NEXT

The Sabercats stay in Watertown and take on Lakeland University on Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.