WATERTOWN, Wis. -- An unforgettable solo goal from Pedro Ribeiro and a show-stopping 12 saves from Ian Balyo gave the Sabercats a day to remember, an NCCAA Midwest Region win, and their first win over Grace Christian University since 2015.

The Tigers, ranked third in the NCCAA Division II, move to fourth in the NCCAA Midwest standings with the loss while the Sabercats stay in third place.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 1-0 No. 3 Grace Christian
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Event: NCCAA Midwest Regular Season
• Attendance: 129
• Record: MBU (2-4-2), GCU (5-4-1) 

STORY
Both teams came out of the gate with determination, but Grace Christian was the more dangerous team in the opening minutes. Against the run of play in the eighth minute, Ribeiro collected a loose pass from Grace Christian in the midfield, and proceeded to beat two Tiger defenders on a dribble before firing his shot into the back of the net from inside the penalty area.
 

GOLAZO, Pedro ????

This goal (and 12 saves from Ian Balyo) give us our first win over Grace Christian since 2015!

?? NCCAA Midwest win
?? NCCAA Top 10 win pic.twitter.com/vcVrbxn9ck

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) September 28, 2024

The second half was all about Ian Balyo. The senior did everything but stand on his head to save some point-blank Tiger efforts, making 12 saves - good enough for his highest mark in a shutout win in his four-year career.

At the other end of the field, Ribeiro and Joshua Donovan created dangerous chances inside the Tigers' penalty area, but neither chance found the mark. The final minutes were all about closing out the game defensively, as the Sabercats' shorthanded back line did just what they needed to do, closing out the second shutout of the season and a statement win in the NCCAA and the Midwest Region.
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Maranatha Starters: 00- I. Balyo, 3- Doese (C), 5- Jones, 8- Davis (C), 9- Ribeiro, 11- Beachell, 16- Kirchner, 17- Bishop, 20- Holloway (C), 23- Brock

STATS

• Ribeiro: second goal of the season
• Balyo: 12 saves - his highest career mark in a shutout win
• Last time: Grace Christian won 3-0 in last year's NCCAA Midwest Region Championship
• Series: Maranatha's first win over Grace Christian since 2015
• Series: Maranatha leads the all-time series 18-11

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	PTS	GD
1	Kuyper	1	1	1	4	-2
2	(RV) Emmaus	1	0	0	3	+3
3	Maranatha	1	1	0	3	0
4	No. 3 Grace Christian	0	1	1	1	-1
5	Great Lakes Christian	-	-	-	-	-

OPPONENTS

• Grace Christian competes with the Sabercats in the NCCAA Midwest Region
• Grace Christian has held the #3 national ranking in both of the Top 10 rankings this season
• Grace Christian finished as NCCAA DII National runners-up in 2022

NEXT

The Sabercats stay home for a 4:00 p.m. matchup against Andrews University on Tuesday. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.