MEN’S SOCCER
Senior Matheus Louzada’s second goal with just over three minutes remaining in the HU men’s soccer team’s season opener against Madonna (1-1) proved to the game-winner in a 3-1 upset over the 15th-ranked Crusaders Saturday afternoon at the Auburn YMCA.
The last time HU knocked off a Top 20 team was a 1-0 decision over No. 16 Indiana Wesleyan on September 24 of 2016.
It was a picture perfect goal with Ty Sproat setting the stage when he found Travis Hurtis open on the flank who served the ball into the box where a crashing Louzada got his head on it for his eighth career game-winner.
For as pretty as the combination play was, equally impressive was the poise Lawson’s crew demonstrated leading up to it. Just twenty minutes prior, the Crusaders, who made it to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament last year, found back netting to knot things up at 1-1. The Foresters responded by going right back it and their persistence and grit paid off.
The cherry on top was Noah Fleming’s tap-in inside the six off a spill from Guilherme Lins Sousa’s blast with just under two minutes remaining to guarantee the W.
HU’s first goal came in the 34th minute when Louzada dribbled through a few Crusaders and then slotted the ball far post for an advantage that would hold until MU’s equalizer by Yuri Farkas at the 66:30 mark.
In his first start as a Forester, Gabe Greenfield claimed the win in goal. The sophomore transfer finished with four saves. Madonna posted 13 shots on the afternoon while seven of Huntington’s 11 shots were on frame.
“Coming off preseason, I thought the boys were ready for Madonna and they proved that they were,” said Lawson. “We were very disciplined defensively.
“While we were on our heels a bit after Madonna scored, we had guys come off the bench to give us valuable minutes. I am pleased that we were able to see this one out against a very good team. Now we look forward to playing Calumet College of St. Joseph in a few days.”
The Foresters (1-0) host the Crimson Wave at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday.
