INDIANAPOLIS - The Marian College men's soccer team hosted its home opener on Sunday at the Marian College Multi-Purpose Athletic Facility. However, conditions were not exactly how everyone had pictured them.

 

A monsoon of rain and 70-mph wind gusts greeted the teams as the Knights scored three goals in the second half to hang on for a 3-2 victory. The remnants of hurricane Ike were blowing through Indianapolis during the match.

 

After a scoreless first half, the Knights came out determined in the second frame as the weather cleared up slightly.

 

At the 57:02 mark, junior Michael Foerster (Ferdinand, Indiana/Forest Park) broke free on the right side and fired a shot toward the center of goal. The goalkeeper made a great save, but spilled the rebound. Sophomore Troy Lock (Madison, Indiana/Madison) cleaned up the mess by poking it in on the left side to give the Knights the 1-0 lead.

 

Just five minutes later, at the 62:01 mark, freshman Conner DeLong (Indianapolis/Lawrence Central) lined up a free kick from about 40 yards out. He lobbed the ball to the top of the box where freshman Adam Sheckler (Mooresville, Indiana/Mooresville) got under the ball and flicked a header toward the net. The ball carried, with the wind, over the goalkeeper and into the back of the net to give the Knights the 2-0 lead.

 

DeLong was not done as he lined up for another free kick at the 67:36 mark from about 25 yards out. He fired the ball right at the goalkeeper in the middle of the net. The netminder had the ball go through his hands and it trickled across the goal line for the 3-0 lead.

 

Each of the three goals were the first on the season for the goal scorers.

 

Robert Morris made it interesting as the Eagles tallied a goal at the 71:43 mark on a deflected free kick in front of the net to cut into the lead making the score, 3-1.

 

With just under two minutes remaining and the power to the field out, the Eagles tallied another goal to make it really interesting. A shot got past freshman goalkeeper James Dulhanty (Lebanon, Indiana/Lebanon) to make the score, 3-2. However, a last ditch corner kick was blown dead by the whistle as the Knights were able to hang on to the 3-2 victory.

 

The win brings the Knights to .500 on the season at 3-3.

 

The Knights head to Urbana, Ohio, on Wednesday to take on the Blue Knights at Urbana Stadium. The match is scheduled for a 4 p.m., kickoff.