GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Kuyper College's first-half goal was the difference today, as the revitalized Cougars captured a Midwest Regular Season win to move to the top of the table.
Pedro Ribeiro was dangerous for Maranatha, firing off five shots on the day - one off the post - but Maranatha was ultimately sent packing without a goal in their first NCCAA Midwest Region regular season contest of the year.
OVERVIEW
- Result: Maranatha 0-1 Kuyper
- Venue: Northpointe Christian High School
- Location: Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Event: NCCAA Midwest Regular Season
- Attendance: 40
- Record: MBU (1-3-2), KC (1-5-0)
STORY
A revitalized Kuyper squad came out with their guns blazing, putting the Sabercats on the back foot through the opening exchanges. But once the Sabercats found a rhythm, they started to combat the Cougars with dangerous chances of their own.
Ribeiro weaved his way through the defense a few different times, and dangerous chances from Robbie Lemon and Grant Kirchner kept the Cougars honest. The only goal of the game came with about five minutes left in the first half, when Blessing Tarpeh fired a shot from the left side of the box into the right corner for a spectacular opening goal.
Maranatha made a noticeable push in the second half, but could not find a way to score despite their best efforts. The closest moments came when Mike Davis forced the goalkeeper to save a free kick, then Ribeiro smashed a shot off the post a few minutes later. Clayton Miller forced the goalkeeper to make a diving save at the near post, but the crucial goal never came for MBU.
--
Maranatha Starters: 00- I. Balyo, 3- Doese (C), 5- Jones, 7- Lemon, 8- Davis (C), 11- Beachell, 16- Kirchner, 19- Miller, 20- P. Holloway (C), 23- Brock, 27- C. Balyo
STATS
- Official stats: TBA
- Last time: Maranatha won 9-0 at home on September 13, 2014
- Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series 6-1-0
STANDINGS
After the new format for the NCCAA Midwest Region was announced earlier this month, the standings for the NCCAA Midwest are as follows (GD - Goal Difference):
| Place |
Team |
W |
L |
T |
GD |
| 1 |
Kuyper |
1 |
0 |
1 |
+1 |
| 2 |
No. 3 Grace Christian |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 3 |
Maranatha |
0 |
1 |
0 |
-1 |
| 4 |
No. 9 Emmaus |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 5 |
Great Lakes Christian |
- |
- |
- |
- |
OPPONENTS
- Kuyper competes with the Sabercats for the NCCAA Midwest Region
- Kuyper's last active season for Men's Soccer was in 2014
- Kuyper tied No. 3 Grace Christian yesterday
NEXT
The Sabercats return home for a 4:00 p.m. matchup against Ripon College on Tuesday. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.
