BOURBONNAIS, IL. – Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) men’s soccer team kicked off their season in style, securing a commanding 4-1 victory over Goshen College in their home opener on Wednesday night. The Tigers set the tone early and never looked back, delivering an impressive performance under new head coach Jon Forsythe.
ONU wasted no time making their mark, with junior Nathan Schmidli finding the back of the net in the 4th minute off an assist from senior Kurodo Ihara, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. The first half remained tightly contested, with both teams battling for control, but ONU’s defense held firm, keeping Goshen off the scoreboard.
The second half saw a flurry of action, beginning with a penalty kick conversion by Goshen in the 52nd minute, briefly tying the game at 1-1. However, the Tigers responded immediately, with freshman Alvaro Bonet reclaiming the lead just seconds later in the 53rd minute, assisted by junior Mounir Azzam.
The Tigers’ offense continued to press, and their efforts paid off as junior Philip Joergensen added another goal in the 57th minute, again assisted by Azzam. ONU sealed the victory with a fourth goal in the 62nd minute, courtesy of Ihara, who found the net with the help of freshman Adrian Kang Hagman. The Tigers’ impressive offensive performance and solid defensive work ensured a comfortable 4-1 win to open the season.
Following the match, Coach Forsythe, who celebrated his first win at the helm of the Tigers, shared his thoughts on the team’s performance: “So proud of the guys for the performance they put in. Obviously, Goshen was a good challenge—they played a number of games and are into the rhythm of the season, so a lot of very good attacking players that we had to deal with. I’m really proud of the guys for handling that. Obviously, it got tight with the penalty for them to go 1-1, but I’ve seen previous years where the game is equalized or when it’s close, there is quite a response with two goals right away. I’m really proud of the guys; we have to recover now and be ready for Siena Heights on Saturday.”
Looking Ahead
The Tigers will hit the road for their next match, taking on Siena Heights University on August 31st. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CST. ONU will be looking to build on their strong start and secure another victory as they continue their early-season campaign.
Quick Hits
- Final Score: Olivet Nazarene University 4, Goshen College 1
- Schmidli 3:09, Bonet 52:35, Joergensen 56:37, Ihara 61:14
–ONU—
*Contact Anyssa Hampton, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, ahampton@olivet.edu
For more on ONU Athletics visit ONUtigers.com
