LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- Five different Sabercats scored goals and six seniors landed on the scoresheet as Maranatha dominated Lincoln Christian 6-1 to pick up a memorable Parents' Day win.

This was the final home game for the Sabercats, who graduate 14 seniors this year. For them, the 2019 Parents' Day couldn't have gone any better.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 6-1 Lincoln Christian
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 183
• Records: MBU (6-6-2), LCU (0-14-1)

STORY

It was a dream start for the Sabercats, who scored two goals in 30 seconds after applying constant pressure to the Red Lions through the opening 15 minutes. Kevin Risma opened the scoring after collecting a rebound from a Zeke Steuerwald shot. With the goalkeeper out of position, Risma chipped a right-footed shot into the top corner for a picture-perfect opening goal. 1-0 Sabercats.

Just 30 seconds after Risma's goal, Teddy Kincaid made the most of his first career start for Maranatha - minutes after he headed a shot off the post, Kincaid dribbled into the LCU box and slipped a pass to Tyler Nelson, who buried his close-range chance to give the Sabercats a two-goal lead. It was Kincaid's first career assist and it propelled Nelson closer to the 40-career-points mark.

Ten minutes after Nelson's goal, the other North Carolinian got on the scoresheet. After Steuerwald earned a penalty kick, Austin DeAngelo stepped up to bury the 12-yard chance and give the Sabercats room to breathe entering halftime.

Maranatha peppered the LCU goal with 17 shots in the opening half, putting Lincoln Christian on the back foot for the second half. With a high-energy crowd behind them, the Sabercats were going full steam ahead.

The fourth goal came 10 minutes into the second half, as Steuerwald capitalized on Nelson's hard work for the 4-0 lead. Nelson won the ball close to the LCU penalty area, then slid to pass the ball to Steuerwald, who took it into the LCU penalty area to bury it in the far corner.

LCU did pull one back, however, as Lance Crisp chipped it over Tim Kinzler to give the Red Lions' cloud a silver lining. But at 4-1, the Sabercats didn't seem threatened.

Any hope the Red Lions had was dashed in the final six minutes. Joel Shepard scored a header from a Tyler Nelson corner kick, and Nelson put the icing on the cake by calmly finishing the scoring after a stolen ball and crisp pass from Risma.

At the end of a day already meant for celebrations, the Sabercats had so much more to smile about.

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At halftime, the following seniors and their parents were recognized as part of the Sabercats' Parents' Day ceremony:

Garrett Gleason, Risma, Brendan Burckart, Nelson, Nathan Campbell, Asa St. Lawrence, DeAngelo, Eldiiar Amankulov, Andrew Ice, Josh Hockema, Shepard, Caleb Hockema, Taylor Dafoe, Kincaid.

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MBU Starters: 1- Kinzler, 2-Risma (C), 7- Nelson, 8- Campbell, 10-St. Lawrence (C), 11- DeAngelo (C), 12- Steuerwald, 14-Ice, 18- Shepard, 19- C. Hockema (C), 22-Kincaid

STATS

• Shot count: Maranatha 32-13 Lincoln Christian
• Nelson: 2 goals, 2 assists
• Nelson: now has 40 career points
• Nelson: now sits at 10th all-time in program history with 12 career assists
• Risma, Steuerwald: 1 goal, 1 assist
• Kincaid: first career assist
• Tim Kinzler: 5 saves
• MBU: had three goals disallowed for fouls/offside
• Last time: Maranatha won 7-0 at Lincoln Christian on October 5
• Series: Maranatha now leads the all-time series 23-2-1

OPPONENTS

• LCU is dually affiliated, competing in the NAIA and the NCCAA DI
• Lincoln Christian competes in the NAIA as an independent institution

NEXT

The Sabercats have concluded their home games for the 2019 season and will take on Emmaus Bible College next Friday at 3:00 p.m. in Dubuque, Iowa. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.