Cougars hold off Wildcats

Wed., Sept. 30, 2009

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Justin Darvish and Ryan Crawford scored goals and the University of Saint Francis held off Indiana Wesleyan University 2-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Coonan Field on the USF campus.

USF pulled even in Mid-Central College Conference play with the win at 1-1 while the Cougars handed the Wildcats their first MCC setback in three games this season. USF also became the first MCC team to score on IWU (3-7, 2-1 MCC) after back-to-back shutout wins over Marian (5-0) and Huntington (1-0).

  "I'm so proud of our defense the way it stayed composed after they scored and really put the pressure on us the last nine minutes," USF head coach Mitch Ellisen said. "Composure was so critical in those final minutes and Nick (Morken) did a great job in goal keeping everything organized in the back."

Austin Bock drew the Wildcats within a goal when he scored at 80:45, an unassisted goal.

  Darvish put the Cougars in front 1-0 pounding in a shot from about 15 yards out off a pass from Crawford from the right side. It was the first MCC goal IWU yielded this season at the 23:31 mark in the first half. Crawford nodded in what proved to be the difference at 70:54 off a fine cross from Randy Smith.

  Darvish's goal was his fifth this season and Crawford's was his fourth.

  Morken finished with six saves, five in the first half and one in the second half. Spenser Lang suffered the loss for the Wildcats, who edged USF 4-3 in 2008. Lang finished with three saves.

  IWU finished with seven corner kicks, fourth in the second half. USF had two corner kicks, both in the first half. Each team finished with 12 shots. USF had 10 fouls, IWU nine. Zach Grantham took three shots-on-goal for the Wildcats and Crawford had three for the Cougars.

  The Cougars resume play on Saturday at Goshen College in a 2 p.m. contest.

Photos:

1 -- Darvish fires his goal scoring kick

2 -- Morken clears the ball after making a stop in the first half

3 -- Brad Lohman attempts to head a second half air ball

4 -- Crawford points at Darvish after he scored in the first half

5 -- Nick Frank takes flight attempting to head a second half air ball