The men and women’s soccer teams were both in action this Saturday as they hosted the season’s only doubleheader for the two teams, at the John Ingold Athletic Complex.

The women took to the field first on the abnormally hot mid-September day when the temperature gauge read 83.

Goshen entered the matchup with an already improved record from last season at 4-1-1. Their opponent, the University of Rio Grande, arrived at Goshen with a 2-3-1 record.

The Maple Leafs looked to carry the momentum forward following their 2-0 win at against Holy Cross on Tuesday.

During the first half of the game, the teams were nearly equal in shots. Goshen took six strikes on goal, the first coming from sophomore Kayla Shaw in the ninth minute of play, and Rio Grande took seven.

The two teams entered halftime 0-0.

In the second half, Rio Grande started to generate more momentum and outshot Goshen 7-2. Goshen was lacking in their counter-attack but was still able to provide chances.

Both teams held strong in the defense and sent the game into overtime with the scoreline remaining at 0-0. This was Goshen’s third overtime of the season and second in seven days.

In the first half of overtime, Rio Grande dominated by outshooting Goshen 5-0. This resulted in sophomore keeper Katie Baer having to make four out of the five saves to keep the Red Storm out through 100 minutes of play.

The second overtime was more Goshen dominant. With the Red Storms back line of defense tiring, the Maple Leafs were able to cause excitement for their fans in the dying minute of the game. Senior Allison Ebersole crossed the ball into the box for junior Kaitlyn Begley, whose shot was saved by Rio Grande’s goalkeeper Kelsey Lee to keep the draw in place and end the game 0-0.

The women’s team record now stands at 4-1-2 and have matched the six-game undefeated streak that was set as the schools longest in 1997.

In the second match of the day, the Red Wolves of Indiana University East faced the Maple Leafs.

In less than a minutes worth of play, Goshen’s Alejandro Rosales netted a goal following a cross from teammate Flavio Cruz.

Ten minutes later Uriel Macias dribble the ball from the center circle to the opponent’s box. Macias took on four IU East defenders before shooting goalward, making the scoreline 2-0.

Following his goal, Macias was able to gain an assist in the 18th minute. He cut the ball back to the right side of the box to Lucas Vilela for the third Maple Leaf goal of the half.

Sophomore Stuart Aeschliman then stepped off the bench to claim two goals of his own. The first came in the 33rd minute of play and the second in the closing seconds of the half.

The Maple Leafs went into halftime with a 5-0 lead. Goshen’s Jimmelle Ramkissoon nearly added his own after ricocheting two off of the post. Goshen College outshot the Red Wolves 15-2 in the first half.

The second half saw more of the same from the dominant Maple Leafs offense, including three shots from Aeschliman that hit the post. They got back in the scoring column in the 61st minute when right back Ethan Francois-Ravalier got taken down in the box. Ravalier stepped up and nailed the penalty kick into the back of the net to push their lead to six.

After more dominant play from the Maple Leafs, forward Ollie Smith assisted on the final two goals on identical plays. The first of his two assists was in the 77th minute where he cut the ball back in the 6-yard box to Lucas Bontreger, the first-year’s fifth goal of the season.

One minute later Smith played this exact same pass, this time to teammate Rosales to cap off the Maple Leafs’ scoring.

The final score ended 8-0 with six different Maple Leafs on the scoresheet. They outshot their opponents 37-6 and improved their record to 5-3.

The men’s team travel to 10th ranked Lindsey Wilson College next Saturday, Sep 22 at 2 p.m. CTD before both the men and women begin conference play.

Both teams begin conference against local rival Bethel College on Wednesday, Sep 26. The men’s team are away in Mishawaka against the Pilots at 7 p.m. whilst the women are home at the John Ingold Athletic Complex, kick-off at 8 p.m.