MARION, Ind. - No. 8 Indiana Wesleyan Men's Soccer avenged their 0-0 tie with Huntington from earlier in the season with a 2-1 win in the Crossroads League Tournament Quarterfinal. The first half began with IWU asserting pressure early, taking multiple shots within the first few minutes. Eliass Elfasoukhi tested the Huntington defense with several attempts, and goalkeeper Kadin Wolfe made a crucial save in the 9th minute to prevent Huntington from gaining an early lead. Midway through the half, the Wildcats continued to push forward, earning several corner kicks and maintaining control. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when Sam Goodin scored on a header with an assist from Diego Palma, putting the home team up 1-0. The period closed with IWU holding a 1-0 advantage, reflecting their persistent offensive efforts. The second half began with more momentum for Indiana Wesleyan. Guzman Trigo capitalized on the momentum by scoring with a flurry of great moves in the 67th minute, marking his second goal of the season and extending the team's lead. Despite Huntington's attempts to narrow the gap, including a series of shots late in the half, IWU's goalkeeper, Wolfe, made crucial saves. Huntington managed to score in the 82nd minute, reducing the deficit. However, the defense of the Wildcats held fast and prevented a comeback. The red and grey of IWU take on the red and black of Grace College on Friday, November 7th at 6:00 PM in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinal.
THE ESSENTIALS
- Location: Marion, Ind. | IWU Soccer Field
- Records: IWU: 11-3-4 (5-1-3) | HU: 4-9-5 (2-5-2)
- Crossroads League Tournament Seed: IWU - #2 | HU - #7
WHAT HAPPENED
- Sam Goodin put the Wildcats in the lead in the 36th minute of play with a header into the goal assisted by Diego Palma.
- IWU extended the lead in the second half when Guzman Trigo used some fancy footwork to get by the defense and scored his second goal of the season.
- Huntington attempted their comeback with a goal in the 82nd minute but the Wildcats held strong and advanced to the next round.
NOTABLE NUMBERS
- 2: Both juniors Sam Goodin and Guzman Trigo scored their second goals of the season.
- 3: Kadin Wolfe made 3 key saves to keep Huntington from equalizing the match.
- 21: IWU outshot the Foresters 21 to 10 in tonight's match.
KEY WILDCATS
GOODIN PERSPECTIVE
- "Team came out focused and ready to go," said defender Sam Goodin. "Played with a purpose, few things to work on for the next match. Feels good to still be dancing."
LOOKING FORWARD
- The Wildcats will face Grace College on Friday, November 7th at 6:00 PM at IWU Soccer Field for the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinal.
- Links for tickets, video, and stats are available at IWUWildcats.com.
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