WATERTOWN, Wis. -- Two years in a row, Maranatha and Martin Luther have squared off in front of a big crowd on the MBU campus, and two years in a row, it has ended in a thrilling tie.

Robert Lemon finished from close range in the 67th minute to tie things up, as the Sabercats saw chance after chance just miss the mark in an offensive flourish.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 1-1 Martin Luther
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 380
• Record: MBU (0-0-1), MLC (0-2-1)

STORY
Maranatha was the more dangerous team right out of the gate, pouring on the pressure in the Knights' end and creating multiple chances at goal. Lemon came the closest, pinging a shot off the crossbar after just missing the top-left corner for a decisive first goal of the game.

Will Alsup sprang off the bench to test the Knights' goalkeeper, who made a couple of saves in the first half to keep the Sabercats off the scoreboard, but the only goal came in the 27th minute, when an enticing corner kick from Silas Gawrisch was met by the head of Joshua Krenke, who headed it in at the back post. Knights 1, Sabercats 0.

Matheus Ribeiro hit the crossbar with what would have been a show-stopping strike, glancing the woodwork from fully 25 yards for the near-equalizer. Ribeiro's effort was a warning shot, as the Sabercats would finally break through in the 68th minute. Pedro Ribeiro started the move with a nice pass out to the left side to Alsup, who cranked a shot that forced a rebound near Brayden Cox. Cox's glancing touch found the path of Lemon, who touched the ball around the keeper and passed it into the bottom corner for an overdue equalizer.

Cox had another chance just a few minutes later to win it, but the Knights' goalkeeper made a close-range save, tipping the ball over the crossbar to keep the game deadlocked.

Joe Shank marked his first game in goal with some heroics late on, making two breakaway saves to keep Martin Luther out of the wins column on the opening weekend.
 

We are going to have *words* with the crossbar. pic.twitter.com/O9Z9Kmed36

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) September 9, 2025

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Maranatha Starters: 1- Shank, 5 - Jones (C), 6 - Johnson, 7- Lemon, 8- Ribeiro, 10 - Ribeiro, 11- Ca. Beachell (C), 12- Greene (C), 13 - Donovan, 14- Cl. Beachell, 19- Miller

STATS

• Last time: Maranatha tied with Martin Luther 2-2 in the 2024 season opener
• Series: Maranatha trails in the all-time series against Martin Luther 0-2-1

OPPONENTS

• Martin Luther competes in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (NCAA Dlll)
• Martin Luther finished the 2024 season with a 4-14-2 record

NEXT

The Sabercats will travel to Rockford, Illinois next Friday to take on Rockford University at 4:30 PM. Find the details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.