MEN’S SOCCER

Junior Higor Barbieri had a banner afternoon by posting a rare hat trick that included the game-winner in the Forester men’s soccer team’s 5-4 win over #RV Indiana Wesleyan Wednesday afternoon at King Stadium.

Barbieri scored the game’s first two goals and then found back netting a third time with just over two minutes remaining when he slotted the keeper on a cross from Pablo Garcia. It came less than 30 seconds after the Wildcats had forced a 4-4 stalemate.

It was the perfect blueprint of the entire contest which featured four ties. It was also the third time that the two teams scored within minutes of each other.

IWU struck first within the opening three minutes but the hosts’ answer was swift for a 1-1 deadlock by the seventh minute. After another Wesleyan goal in the 31st minute, HU ended up chasing their guests the rest of the half to find themselves down 2-1 by intermission but reversed that trend after the break.

Barbieri’s PK seven minutes into the second frame knotted things up at 2-2. Four minutes later in the 57th minute, Tiago Costa served a bent ball into the box off a corner that grazed the crossbar to perfectly set up Garcia who one-touched it side netting for HU’s first lead of the day at 3-2.

From that point on, the Wildcats were forced to play catchup, but it didn’t make for a walk in the park for Huntington. A HU foul in the box resulted in an easy PK score for IWU at the 74:48 mark for a 3-3 tie.

The Wildcats’ celebration was cut short thanks to a stunning well-driven ball on a restart from James Lighton just inside the half that carried into the back of the net. It came just three minutes after IWU’s penalty kick and put Huntington back on top at 4-3.

When all was said and done, both teams scored twice in the final 15 minutes to make for a rollercoaster of a finish with HU having the last say. The offensive showdown was the most goals either team has given up this season. IWU came into the game allowing just 0.6 goals per game.

“Today’s game had a little bit of everything,” said Coach Russ Lawson. “I’m proud of how the guys fought back from a first half where we were down and not playing anywhere near our ability.

“The boys went after the lead in the second half – it was a fantastic response. I was impressed with our grit and it was exciting to score five goals against a well-coached and organized team like Wesleyan.”

With this win, the Foresters (9-4-1, 2-2-1) move into a three-way tie with Spring Arbor and IWU for third in the league standings. Next up for Lawson and crew is a trip to Marian on Saturday.