Eric Andrews | The Echo
The Taylor men's soccer team snapped their eight-game winless drought on Saturday by defeating Grace College 1-0 in overtime.
The victory marked the Trojans' third of the season and first at Turner Stadium since the season opener on Aug. 19. The victory also notched the Trojans' first conference win this season.
The Trojans narrowly missed taking the lead on two occasions early in the game. Junior Gonzalo Iglesias hit the crossbar and senior Nate West kicked a shot that inched just wide of the goal.
Grace also had their fair share of opportunities to score in the first half, taking five shots during the frame, edging the Trojans' four shots. Neither team converted on their first-half chances, leading to a scoreless tie at halftime.
Much like the first half, the second half was also tightly contested, as both teams managed to generate multiple scoring opportunities. Despite Taylor's 6-5 shot advantage in the second half, Grace nearly broke the Trojans' hearts in the final seconds of the game.
With a little under 30 seconds remaining, a Grace player had a good look at the goal. His shot beat freshman goalkeeper Luke Williams and headed toward the goal line. Inches before the ball arrived at the goal line, junior Lewis Nisbet cleared the ball away from the goal before the ball could cross the line for the imminent game-winner.
The Trojans hoped to take advantage of their regained life in overtime after having survived the scare at the end of regulation. Taking matters into their own hands, the Trojans generated multiple scoring chances in the extra frame.
Following a throw-in from junior Luke Gray to junior Gabe Saliba, Saliba returned the ball to Gray, who then sent the ball down the field to sophomore Jeremiah Rader. Finding himself in a 1-on-2 situation, Rader hoped he could gain a step on the defenders in order to cross the ball to the middle of the field.
Rader hesitated a couple of times before gaining a step on the Grace defenders to open up enough room to cross the ball to Iglesias, who waited eagerly in front of the Grace goal.
"I was screaming at him, 'Pass me the ball, pass me the ball! Cross it!'" Iglesias said.
The ball squeezed its way through the Grace defense to Iglesias, who then managed to get a touch on the ball with the back of his heel. Iglesias spun, aimed, fired, scored. Game over.
Head coach Gary Ross was pleased with the team's performance, stating the game was the team's best of the season, as they played well defensively, shutting out Grace and earning their first conference win of the season.
"We knocked (Grace) off winning the conference last year," Ross said. "I knew they would come in with some fire and some passion, a little bit of anger and revenge in their minds. We were able to stave them off and get a big goal at the end. It was a much-needed win and a beautiful goal, a beautiful way to finish."
The Trojans will take the field tomorrow in Indianapolis to battle Marian at 7 p.m. and will return to Turner Stadium on Wednesday to host Goshen at 7 p.m.
"Photograph by Fayth Glock"
