HU takes care of business on opening day of league play

GOSHEN, Ind. – The Huntington men's soccer team took it to Goshen, 6-0, on opening night of league play Saturday at the GC Soccer Complex. The Foresters have strung together four straight victories over the Leafs.

The win also marks the program's largest margin of victory over GC and the most Huntington goals scored against a Maple Leaf defense with the previous high of four dating back to a 4-3 OT decision in 1984.  

It was HU's early pressure that put their first points on the board. Sam Dolobaipu challenged the keeper's attempt to clear a ball that deflected right to Joao Ratinho in front of an empty net for the easy tap-in at the 4:11 mark. Tiago Costa made it 2-0 just before halftime when he lasered a shot far post from the left side.

The Foresters were just getting started as they blew the contest wide open after intermission. Bernardo Coelho wasted little time kicking off the second half scoring blitz by netting his first goal in Forester green within the first :30 seconds.

Dolobaipu and Higor Barbieri also got in on the frenzy by each finding back netting within a 12-minute span starting in the 62nd minute. Ratinho was back at it to put the finishing touches on the match with a header on a perfectly placed pass into the box by Weston Roth with seven minutes to go.

When all was said and done, five different Foresters scored with Ratinho leading the way with two goals and an assist. Dolobaipu scored and assisted another for three points on the night while a pair of rookies in Kovan Drenth and Roth each handed out their first collegiate dime.

Dan Pellegrine earned the shutout win in frame. He finished with four saves in the winning effort.

"This was a fantastic result to kick-off conference play," said Coach Russ Lawson. "I am pleased with the clean sheet and multiple goal scorers."

HU (4-3-3, 1-0) is home on Wednesday for the first time since September 2 to host #7 Bethel at 7:00 p.m.

The Huntington University Foresters compete in 18 intercollegiate sports for men and women. In the past decade, Huntington has produced 154 NAIA All-America honors and 501 All-America Scholar Athlete honors. Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest.