GOSHEN, Ind.—The Goshen College women’s soccer team took on St. Xavier for their 2011 home debut. After two wins on the road with this year’s strong offense, the Leafs hoped to continue their undefeated record. Although they had several opportunities to score, the Cougars went home with a 2-0 victory.
The Cougars entered the match with a 1-3 record but recently defeated NAIA #4 Hastings College. A key player on their team was senior midfielder, Joanna Janulis. In the first half with 21 minutes left, Janulis scored the Cougars’ first point. With three minutes to go, Janulis scored yet another goal by sending the ball over the head of junior goalkeeper Lynn Weaver.“What the other coach did was put in not-so-skilled players, but very fast players to battle our defense,” said Fabio dos Santos, head coach for the Leafs. “By doing that, it gave them the ability to score those two goals in the first half.”
This is Santos’ first year with the Maple Leafs after Thavisith Mounsithiraj resigned last year. In the previous years before joining the Leafs, Santos held successful coaching positions at Waldorf College and Oakland City University.
“I’m in love with this team, they are awesome.” Santos said. “You tell them to jump, they jump. From all my coaching experience, working with them has been the best time of my life. They are so passionate about the game and they want more.”
Goshen’s next match-up will take place at Bluffton University on September 10. The Leafs will be back to the Goshen College Soccer Complex on September 13 when they host Manchester University.