Unlucky bounces have been the bane of the Wabash soccer team all season long.
It appeared a bad bounce would cost the Little Giants another match Thursday night, but Wabash rallied for a late goal to take a 2-1 victory over the Franklin College Grizzlies at Mud Hollow Field.
Head Coach Roberto Giannini had one thought after Franklin erased a 1-0 lead by the Little Giants in the 79th minute.
"Show me you can play hard for these last 11 minutes," Giannini bellowed to his team on the field.
The Little Giants did just that with a shot attempt by Gary Simkus that just sailed to the right of the net. Simkus got another chance in the 83rd minute of a pass from Michael-Paul Hutchins, but this time he drilled the ball home for his ninth goal of the season. (View photos from the Little Giants' victory.)
Wabash had numerous chances all match long. The Little Giants fired 27 total shots, putting 10 on net.
Wabash goalkeeper Matt McClain earned his second win of the season, recording one save as his defensive players held the Grizzlies to only six total shots in the match.
Wabash took a 1-0 lead when David Wood took a loose ball near the Franklin net and fired a shot away before the defenders could recover for his first goal of the year. Wood had five total shots with two shots on goal. Simkus led the offensive explosion with 13 total shots and five shots on goal.
The Little Giants improve to 3-11-1 with the victory. Wabash travels to Wooster, Ohio Saturday for an afternoon North Coast Athletic Conference match against the College of Wooster Fighting Scots (9-3-1, 3-2-1 NCAC).
Photos - (Main Page) David Wood drives his shot past the defense and into the net for his first goal of the season.
(Above Left) Gary Simkus thought he would get an early goal in the first half, but the Grizzlies kept the ball out of the goal. Simkus scored in the final eight minutes of the match to give the Little Giants the win.