For the second consecutive game the Wabash College soccer team battled back from a 1-0 deficit. Senior Sean McNulty (Ft. Wayne, IN/Bishop Luers) tied the match in the 29th minute before junior Colin Smith (Zionsville, IN/Zionsville) (photo) recorded his third straight game-winning goal to give the Little Giants a 2-1 win over Anderson University on Tuesday afternoon. The win was the third victory in a row for Wabash and evens its record at 6-6 for the season.
The Little Giants had to play from behind after Anderson’s Manny Kratzat collected a deflected shot and scored in the 25th minute to give the Ravens the early lead. But Wabash rallied four minutes later when junior Tom Reifenberg (Ft. Wayne, IN/Bishop Dwenger) hit a corner kick to Smith, who played the ball into the middle of the goal box. McNulty came up and fired a shot past Anderson goalie Kurt Smalley to tie the game at 1-1.
With the score still tied at the start of the second half, the Little Giants increased the offensive pressure. Wabash ripped two shots in the first 11 minutes of the second half that just missed. Then the Little Giant defense cleared a ball over the top at midfield. Sophomore Jeff Diebel (Ft. Wayne, IN/Homestead) raced to the pass and crossed the ball to Smith, who beat the goalkeeper to score his third goal in as many games.
Sophomore goalkeeper Will McAdams (Carmel, IN/Carmel) and the rest of the Little Giant defense did the rest. McAdams recorded six saves, including an Anderson shot that was turned aside in the final seconds of the match to preserve the victory.
Wabash finished with four shots on goal. The Ravens had seven total shots at the net.
The Little Giants will return to action in the North Coast Athletic Conference on Saturday with a 1 p.m. match against Ohio Wesleyan. The junior varsity team will play a group of Wabash alumni beginning at 10 a.m. at Mud Hollow Field, followed by the varsity match.