LEAD
WATERTOWN, Wis. -- When the dust settled on the MBU campus, the Sabercats and the Martin Luther College Knights had shared a 2-2 tie in front of a capacity crowd.
Goals from Robert Lemon and Grant Kirchner offset two second-half goals from the Knights. Ian Balyo made 13 saves in the tie.
OVERVIEW
- Result: Maranatha 2-2 Martin Luther
- Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
- Location: Watertown, Wis.
- Event: 2024 Season Opener
- Attendance: ---
- Record: MBU (0-0-1), MLC (0-2-1)
STORY
Lemon got things started in the first half, just minutes after subbing onto the field. Lemon tackled a defender off the ball on top of the box before hitting a shot with his left foot that found its way through the Knights goalkeeper. Just like that, the Sabercats were in front.
Maranatha was the more dominant team in the first half but couldn't find a second goal. Balyo kept the Knights at bay with six saves in the first half.
The second half was all about the Knights in the opening minutes, as the visitors scored in quick succession to make it a 2-1 game. From there, the game was wide open, as both teams pressed to take control of things, and in the 76th minute, Kirchner tied things up when he weaved through the Knights' back line. Kirchner burst into the box and challenged for a ball with a Knights defender, sending the ball zipping into the bottom-right corner to level the game.
When it was all said and done, it was a thrilling season opener with chances for both teams to win it. Maranatha had five freshman make their college debut on the day, as Grant Brock, Colby Balyo, Pedro Ribeiro, Matheus Ribeiro, and Davin Johnson all contributed minutes for Maranatha in the 2-2 tie.
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Maranatha Starters: 0- Ian Balyo, 3- Doese (C), 5- Jones, 8- Davis (C), 11- Beachell, 16- Kirchner, 19- Miller, 20- Holloway (C), 22- Broere, 23- G. Brock, 27- C. Balyo
NUMBERS
- Shots: Maranatha 21-25 Martin Luther
- Shots on goal: Maranatha 8-13 Martin Luther
- Balyo: 13 saves
- Last time: Maranatha fell to Martin Luther 2-5 in Watertown in last year's home opener
- Series: Maranatha leads the old all-time series against Northwestern 25-2-1*, but trails 0-2-1 against Martin Luther
*Northwestern College had its campus in Watertown before merging with Dr. Martin Luther College in 1995
OPPONENTS
- Martin Luther competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC)
- Martin Luther finished 2023 with a 4-14-1 record
- Martin Luther opened the 2024 season with a 3-0 loss at Buena Vista University (Storm Lake, Iowa)
NEXT
The Sabercats stay at home to face Emmaus Bible College in an NCCAA Midwest Region matchup on Tuesday. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.
