After two consecutive conference defeats, Holy Cross men’s soccer needed a big win to get back on track and avoid falling to 1-3 in CCAC play. On Tuesday night, they got just that, defeating Indiana Northwest 2-0 on the road to improve to 4-6-1 (2-2 CCAC) on the year.
Defense has been something of a question mark for the Saints through much of the season. Holy Cross entered the game having not recorded a shutout since August. They ceded 16 goals over their last seven outings, a stretch that included just one win.
The Saints put an end to that trend on Tuesday, stifling the RedHawks’ (2-6-1, 0-4 CCAC) attack and keeping them out of the net for the entire 90 minutes. Holy Cross controlled possession through most of the game, limiting Indiana Northwest to just six total shots compared to 11 of their own.
A strong effort from the Saints’ back line prevented goalkeeper Isaias Rubio from seeing much action, but the sophomore stepped up each time he was called upon. Rubio made a pair of second-half saves that kept the RedHawks off the scoreboard, earning his first win as a starter this season.
Three days after being held scoreless in a 2-0 defeat against Roosevelt, the Holy Cross attack needed some time to find its rhythm on Tuesday. Midway through the first half, it looked like Indiana Northwest would be the first to score. In the 28th minute, the RedHawks’ Dom Bixeman found space for an open shot but fired the ball off the crossbar.
It didn’t take the Saints long to capitalize on that fortunate bounce. Less than five minutes later, sophomore forward Amos Gborie set up junior forward Juan Perez for the score that put Holy Cross ahead 1-0. Both players made an instant impact off the bench after having been substituted into the game in the 26th minute.
The assist was Gborie’s first of the season, while Perez tallied his second goal of 2023 after previously scoring in a loss to Calvin earlier in the year. The score was enough for the Saints to carry their advantage into the break, as the RedHawks were unable to record a shot in the closing stages of the first half.
Indiana Northwest began the second period as the aggressors, seeking an opportunity to level the score. Just over 15 minutes into the half, the RedHawks’ Francisco Torres managed a shot on goal, but Rubio made his first save of the game to maintain the Holy Cross advantage.
That advantage would double soon after. Receiving a pass from junior forward Isaac Filippo in the 73rd minute, Perez scored his second goal of the day to put the Saints ahead by two and make the remainder of the game slightly more comfortable for Holy Cross. Indiana Northwest had another scoring opportunity in the 86th minute on a shot attempt from the RedHawks’ Lazo Golubovic. But Rubio was in position to make the save, sealing a 2-0 victory for the Saints.
Holy Cross will look to pick up another win on Saturday afternoon, when they return home to face Viterbo (4-1-3, 1-0 CCAC) in a conference matchup. The Saints have not won consecutive games since defeating Indiana East and Goshen during non-conference play in August. They will seek more consistency over the coming weeks, with the chance to string together a few victories and move toward the top of the CCAC standings.
The Saints will host Viterbo at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
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