A hat trick by junior forward Gary Simkus led Wabash to its first victory on the soccer pitch this season and shot at winning the Jimmy Miller Tournament at Haverford College. The Little Giants defeated the host Fords 4-1 Saturday afternoon, but lost in the championship match to Cabrini College by the same 4-1 score.
After a scoreless first half Saturday, freshman Luis Quiroga took a cross from Chris Serak and buried it in the back of the net on a header to put Wabash in front 1-0 less than two minutes into the period. The Little Giants kept up the intensity over the final 45 minutes, setting up Simkus and his three scores.
The 6-6 junior took care of matters himself in the 56th minute. Simkus split two Haverford defenders with a quick dribble before blasting a shot from inside the 18-yard box for a 2-0 lead. Haverford answered with a goal in the 61st minute to cut the lead to one on a diving header by Eric Kissinger that slipped past freshman goalkeeper Matthew McClain. It would be the only ball to get past the rookie Little Giant net-minder. McClain finished the match with nine saves.
Meanwhile, Simkus had an answer of his own. Just over two minutes after the Fords’ goal, Matt Potasnik fired a crossing pass into the box. Simkus stepped in front for a header, scoring for the second time in the match and third of the season.
But he wasn’t done yet. In the 78th minute, senior captain Ben Esbaum hit Simkus in front of the net one more time with a crossing pass. Simkus put another header into the goal to complete the match while sending the Little Giants into Sunday’s championship match.
"We played a great match," head coach Roberto Giannini said. "I don’t say that because we won. We played a phenomenal match, particularly in the second half. We were much better in terms of our intensity, desire, and our method of play. We pounded it out play after play today."
Fifteen minutes proved to be the difference between a possible title and another tough loss for the Wabash soccer team Sunday afternoon. Cabrini scored four times in that 15-minute portion of the championship match to defeat the Little Giants.
"It was 15 minutes of craziness," Giannini said. "It wasn’t just one player, but was from all 11 players on the field.
"We started the match by playing decent soccer, then it was like the light switch was turned off. Cabrini scored four goals in 15 minutes. We played better as a team in the second half, and I really felt we dominated the period. But we are coming home with a 4-1 defeat because we lost concentration for 15 minutes."
Simkus scored his fifth goal of the week in the 61st minute on a cross from Tahir Ahmed. Wabash managed 16 shots and seven shots on goal in the match.
The Little Giants (1-4) return to action Wednesday afternoon with a 4 p.m. match at Millikin.