LANSING, Mich. -- The Sabercats led until the 78th minute against the seventh-ranked Great Lakes Crusaders today, falling 2-3 at Henderson Field in an NCCAA Midwest Region clash.

Chase Mixell had the goal of the season so far in the first half, and Michael Doese bagged his fifth goal of the season to give Maranatha a halftime lead, but the hosts' pressure finally paid off late in the second half.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 2-3 No. 7 Great Lakes Christian
• Venue: Henderson Field - Grace Lakes Christian College
• Location: Lansing, Mich. 
• Event: NCCAA Midwest Region
• Attendance: 89
• Record: MBU (1-10-0), GLCC (3-5-2) 

STORY

Great Lakes opened the scoring in the first half, going ahead at the 15-minute mark after some consistent pressure in the opening possessions. But just seconds later, Mixell produced a jaw-dropping strike to open his collegiate scoring account. Mixell collected the ball on the left side, cut to the center of the field while beating two Great Lakes defenders, and then drilled a shot from 25 yards over the goalkeeper's hands and into the top-right corner.

Right away, the Sabercats' momentum was restored.

The next 30 minutes were back-and-forth, but just before halftime, the Sabercats produced a goal that looked like it came straight from the training field. Joseph Greene curled in a corner kick with his left foot towards the head of Johnathan Perkins, who snapped a header towards the goal from about 12 yards away. Perkins' header made a beeline for Doese, who touched it around the goalkeeper for a 1-2-3 finish and the go-ahead goal just before halftime.

Coming out of the halftime team talks, the Crusaders looked re-energized and purposeful, using the wind at their back to keep the ball in the Sabercats' end for the majority of the opening exchanges.

Ian Balyo stood up to his task with aplomb, making nine saves on the day - many of which were breakaway stops to keep the Crusaders frustrated. Balyo was having a day, and the hosts began to get frustrated.

But the Great Lakes pressure finally paid off just before the 80th minute, as Rafael Romero-Santana scored a header from a well-worked corner kick play. Then with the momentum on their side, the Crusaders took the lead just three minutes later when Joel Kisukulu ran in behind the Sabercats' back line, touched the ball around BAlyo, and finished into the gaping net to give the hosts the lead and dampen the Sabercats' hopes at the same time.

The Saberats created some chances late in the game in their all-out effort to tie things up, but the fresh legs of the Crusadesr held, and the hosts wrapped up their one-goal win in a classic NCCAA Midwest Region matchup.

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Maranatha Starters: 00- Balyo, 2- T. Holloway, 3- Doese, 8- Davis (C), 9- Wright, (C), 11- Beachell, 12- Greene, 17- Bishop, 18- Mixell, 19- Miller, 20- P. Holloway (C)

STATS

• Shot count: Maranatha 6-29 Great Lakes Christian
• Mixell: first college goal
• Perkins: first college assist
• Last time: Maranatha fell to Great Lakes Christian 1-0 on October 16, 2021
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series against Great Lakes Christian 17-2-1

OPPONENTS

• Great Lakes Christian competes with Maranatha in the NCCAA Midwest Region
• Grace Lakes Christian finished the 2022 season with a record of 8-8-0

NEXT

The Sabercats travel to Ankeny, Iowa where they will face Faith Baptist on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.