UPLAND, Ind. – For fourth time this season, Grace's men's soccer team came up empty in overtime. The Lancers fell to Taylor on Saturday 2-1 in double overtime.
Taylor (6-5-2, 2-2 Crossroads League) put pressure on the Lancers (7-3-2, 1-2-1 CL) early with two quick shots that forced Grace goalkeeper Gonzalo Salo to be sharp.
In the 22nd minute, the Trojans came close to breaking through the Lancers' defense off a corner kick, but the Grace defenders forced a tough shot that went just wide of the net.
Grace put together a dangerous attack in the 35th minute and threatened to take the lead. Marcelo Talamas took a pass from Ulisses Miranda and put a shot on goal that was saved by the sprawling Trojan keeper. Cody Boerema jumped on the rebound, but his shot hit the crossbar and went out of play.
The tie was finally broken in the 42nd minute when the Trojans capitalized on a Lancers' defensive miscue and buried the ball for the first goal of the afternoon.
The Lancers went into the half down 1-0 on the scoreboard. Grace outshot Taylor 7-6, and Miranda led the team with three shot attempts.
Grace again was dangerous at the start of the second half as Boerema forced a diving save off a shot from the top of the box in the 50th minute.
The Lancers were able to keep the pressure on and were awarded a penalty kick in the 54th minute after jumping on a loose ball and getting tackled in the box.
Grace called on Boerema, who had been in great form all day, to take the penalty kick. Boerema put a shot on the left side of the goal that completely fooled the Trojan keeper and drew the game at 1-1.
Despite the goal, the Lancers' offense did not relent. In the 61st minute a crossing pass to Talamas forced another outstanding save.
The rest of the regulation was quiet until the Trojans put together a quick attack as time was expiring. Salo made one last save to force overtime.
Although they could not find a goal, the first overtime was all Taylor as the Lancers did not attempt a shot. The Trojans were awarded four corner kicks, and they had a shot that took a diving effort from Salo to keep the ball out of the Lancers' goal.
Taylor scored the deciding goal early in the second overtime. A long-range shot from well outside the penalty area found the top corner of the net, ending the game 2-1 in favor of the Trojans.
Salo had five saves, and Boerema led the team with four shots.
The Lancers return to action on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they host Indiana Wesleyan at 1st Source Bank Field.
