Photo by Tyler Swanson
McPherson, Kan. – The Central Christian College men's soccer team opened their 2023 campaign in thrilling fashion, with a 4-3 win at home, on Friday night against the Bethany College Swedes. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Bethany, but high temperatures all week forced a location change so both the women's and men's games could be played at 8:00 pm. The women ended up playing in Lindsborg, and the men's game was moved to McPherson.

It was an exciting game right out of the gate, and the Tigers had two quick opportunities to score in the first five minutes. Drew Schrader (Sr. McPherson, Kan.) got in behind the Swede defense twice and was one on one with the keeper. The first shot hit the cross bar, and the second skirted just wide of the near post. The Tigers finally cracked the scoring column in the 11^th minute when Eduardo Calderon (Jr. Ft. Worth, Texas) served a ball across the six yard box to the far post where Johnny Rodriguez (Jr. Anaheim, Calif.) was waiting, wide open. He volleyed the ball into the back of the net for the first goal of the season, and a 1-0 lead.

That lead would be short lived, as the Swedes would respond with the equalizer three and a half minutes later. That would be all the scoring in the first 45 minutes and the teams left the pitch for the halftime intermission knotted at one.

Seven minutes into the second frame, the Swedes took their first lead of the game on a defensive miscue by the Tigers. The defense failed to clear a cross by the Swedes and they capitalized, finding the nylon and going up 2-1. Playing behind for the first time, the Tigers found a sense of urgency and went on the attack. In the 63^rd minute, Francisco Leite (Sr., Porto, Portugal) was fouled inside the 18 yard box, and the Tigers were awarded a penalty kick by the center referee. Riccardo Di Vincenzo (Sr. Custonaci, Italy), stepped up and buried the PK to tie the game back at two.

In the 73^rd minute the Tigers retook the lead, capitalizing on a set piece from a corner kick. Leite served the ball from the right corner to the near post. Di Vincenzo ran on, flicked the ball with his heel across the six yard box, again to Rodriguez, who headed the ball past the Swedes' goal keeper, putting the Tigers back in front by a goal. Again, however the lead was short lived. Just over a minute later the Swedes tied the game on a defensive lapse by the Tigers.

The last ten minutes of the game were frantic, and the Bethany players were dropping like flies with what appeared to be muscle cramps. The Tigers were more fit, and kept the pressure on the Swedes' defense. In the waning moments of the game, the Tigers got one last opportunity, on a corner kick. Marco Cherchi (So. Fontaneto D'Agogna, Italy) quickly served the ball to the penalty spot. With one second on clock, the ball found the head of Camilo Penafiel (So., Santiago, Chile). He redirected the ball back to the near post and the ball hit the side netting as the clock hit zero, giving the Tigers a 4-3 victory in walk-off fashion.
 
















Rodolfo Ramirez (Jr., Mission Viejo, Calif.) made his first career start in net for the Tigers against the Swedes. He faced eight shots on goal, and finished with five saves.
 
Tiger head coach, Aaron Hoxie summed up the opener by saying, "It is very difficult to describe how I feel tonight. I'm wanting to be frustrated because I expected more, but at the same time, we won the match, which is all that is expected in this game. Yet, I'm frustrated that we conceded so quickly on the third goal, especially after handing them the first two. I'm frustrated because we are starting to rack up non-muscle injuries to key players."

"However, we won, and we won in dramatic fashion. What an insane final 10 minutes, just absolute euphoria, adrenaline, and excitement.  I'm very proud of our character tonight. Our leaders will not let our standards drop, and that was evident tonight. We competed; we are the wolves in charge of defending the campus.  Our desire for each other in search of a common goal, to be leaders of the men God has placed in our care on campus, and to shed life's blood for a cause…evident for 90 mins. Hopefully, the rest of our teams on campus can use this as a springboard for their seasons. The Ambush go as one."

"Final piece of individual play. Was very happy with Conner [Rodgers] tonight. He got tossed into a situation, and played his socks off. He did his job. Proud of Camilo, he is a game changer. The best goal he's probably ever scored, if not, certainly the most memorable one."

"Finally, great job by the coaches tonight. We pulled all the right strings, and all our decisions impacted the game for the better. Good work.  All praise to Joseph Witt, ball runner tonight, sprinting 40 yards getting the ball in with 1 min left. The throw that led to the corner, that led to the goal. He wasn't on the gram, he wasn't Face Timing his boo, nope, he was a lead wolf doing his job tonight.  That's what winners do."

The Tigers (1-0-0), will be back on the road next Wednesday against a tough Bethel College side. Kick-off is slated for 8:00 pm in North Newton, Kan.