HUNTINGTON, Ind. - Grace College's men's soccer team dispatched the Huntington Foresters 3-0 on Saturday night.
With two games left in the regular season, the Lancers (12-2-1, 6-0-1 Crossroads League) hold a two-point lead over Bethel for the top spot in conference.
Grace was dominant early in the Saturday night showdown with Huntington (5-7-4, 2-4-1 CL). The Lancers controlled the pace of play, and held the Fosters without a shot through the first 17 minutes of action.
When Huntington finally was able to try a shot on goal, it took a dramatic effort from Grace goalie
Matteo Conci to keep the game even. Conci charged in and made a sliding save on a point-blank shot from the Foresters.
Just minutes after the stellar save from Conci, Grace scored the game's first goal.
Jonny Mora crossed a pass into the box that the Huntington keeper misjudged.
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Martim Sequeira was the beneficiary of the advantageous scoring chance and confidently buried the goal to give Grace the 1-0 lead midway through the opening half.
After the Lancers' goal, the rest of the half was a possession battle with the majority of the action taking place in the midfield.
Grace had a 1-0 lead as the second half got underway, but wasted little time in expanding the margin.
Juan Garci was awarded a free kick from well outside the penalty area. Garcia sent a slicing shot towards goal that took a deflection off of a Huntington player and found its way to the back of the net to double Grace's lead six minutes into the half.
Two minutes later Grace scored again.
Frederik Christmann had a shot on goal that was momentarily saved but the ensuing deflection was scored by
Kyle Holwerda who outhustled a Forester defender for the loose ball.
Maxime Bregeon nearly added another tally late in the game but was denied by the Huntington goalie who went full extension to make the save.
Conci saved every shot he faced as the Lancers closed out the 3-0 win.
After full time, Grace was credited with five shots to Huntington's nine. The Foresters also held a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
Conci made seven saves in the victory and picked up his eight clean sheet of the season.
The Lancers will return to action on Wednesday against Goshen for their last roadtrip of the regular season.
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