ANDERSON, IND. – A sunny beginning to a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference clash with rival Anderson University couldn't overcome a steady rally by the hosts Wednesday, Oct. 4.
The Spartans, who had entered looking to even their loop mark, used the 15th career goal off the foot of senior midfielder/defender/forward Tod Oram (Crown Point, Ind.) to take an early advantage. Sophomore defender Nash Walker (West Lafayette, Ind.) sent an assist to Oram for a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute. Coach Corey Brueggeman's crew maintained the lead until the 27th minute when the Ravens got a shot past senior net minder Brady Forman (Hastings, Mich.) for a 1-1 tie.
Forman and the Black and Gold defense appeared headed to break level, but the home side, with the first half clock running down, took the lead for good in the 41st minute. AU added another score right out of halftime, posting a goal less than a minute and a half into the second frame for a 3-1 edge which turned out to be the final. The Ravens' Brandon Weer and the defensive back line needed the cushion, as Manchester University, despite slipping to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in the conference, held a 16-6 shots advantage in the final 45 minutes.
The trio of junior forward Drake DeWitt (Columbia City, Ind.), freshman forward Josh Gonzalez (Portage, Ind.) and junior midfielder Josh McCoy (LaPorte, Ind.) made their presence felt in the home team's end throughout the contest. They combined for 15 of MU's 25 total attempts but couldn't find an equation to work past Weer.
Manchester University continues a two-match road trip Saturday, Oct. 7. They face off against Rose-Hulman in a 3:30 p.m. kickoff at Terre Haute, Ind., as part a doubleheader with the women's team.