BELOIT, Wis. - Beloit College men's soccer dropped a 4-1 decision to Grinnell this afternoon at Strong Soccer Field. The Buccaneers (0-11-1, 0-3-1 MWC) got an early equalizer from Ervin Rosas but couldn't stop a Pioneers attack that outshot them 29-8. Grinnell improved to 9-2-1 overall and 3-2-0 in Midwest Conference play.
Grinnell struck first when Samuel Gojjam scored in the 11th minute, but Beloit responded just over five minutes later. At 16:12, Ervin Rosas finished off an assist from Elijah Hartberg (Stoughton, Wis.) to tie the game at 1-1. It was Rosas's fourth goal of the season and the only Buccaneers goal of the afternoon.
The match stayed level for just over two minutes. Gojjam netted his second of the half at 18:49 to put Grinnell back in front 2-1, a lead the Pioneers carried into the break.
Goalkeeper Ben Borger Germann played all 90 minutes and finished with 11 saves, keeping the match within reach for long stretches. Grinnell put 15 shots on target, and Borger Germann turned aside 11 of them, including a penalty kick from Demi Oni in the 65th minute. The save came after a foul on Beloit, but Grinnell's Daniel Katsanovich scored on the rebound moments later to make it 3-1.
Borger Germann was especially busy in the first half, making six saves as Grinnell took 18 shots in the opening 45 minutes.
Despite the final score multiple Buccaneers put together noteworthy performances. Hartberg recorded the assist on Rosas's goal in 29 minutes of action. Borger Germann made eleven saves across a full 90 minutes. Nicholas Williams (Fenton, MO) fired Beloit's first shot on target, forcing a save in the sixth minute. He played 62 minutes. Daniel Abreu took two shots in 28 minutes off the bench, including an early second-half effort that tested the Grinnell keeper. Colin Frank played the full 90 minutes in the Buccaneers' midfield.
Beloit made wholesale changes at the start of the second half, substituting seven players at the 45-minute mark. The Buccaneers were more competitive in the second half in terms of possession of chances, generating five shots compared to three in the first period, though they managed no further goals.
Beloit's best looks came late. Rosas had two attempts that went wide, and Evan Miranda's shot in the 85th minute was blocked. Grinnell added a fourth goal at 78:19 when Jake Brecknock scored off assists from Gojjam and Colton Depew.
The Buccaneers are back in action tomorrow against UW-Whitewater at Badger High School. Kick off against the Warhawks is set for 4 pm.
