Box Score NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – An inspired defensive effort helped Manchester University give perennial Ohio Athletic Conference power Ohio Northern University all it could handle Tuesday, Sept. 29.
The Spartans, dipping to 3-4-2, received a superb effort from sophomore goalkeeper Brady Forman (Hastings, Mich.). Forman, battling against a 23-6 shots advantage for the visiting Polar Bears, knocked away nine shot on goal opportunities to keep the scoreboard level at 0-0 throughout regulation. His opponent, on the other end of Spartan Soccer Field, was equal to the task, as ONU sophomore Dean McNeil recorded two saves in the same span, including one off a well-placed penalty kick chance from senior defender Julio Luevano (Aguascalientes, Mexico) in the opening period.
Neither team appeared ready to step away from the scoreless draw even in the extra session. However, in the 97th minute, Ohio Northern senior defender Chad Smith sent a corner kick into the penalty box on MU's end of the field which was gathered by sophomore midfielder J.J. Fortner and headed into the net just past Forman's out-stretched hands for the 1-0 final.
Topping the host Black and Gold in the shots category was the duo of junior forward Ola Ladapo (London, England) and freshman midfielder/forward Ben Niederhelman (Ross, Ohio). They each turned in two attempts with one of Niederhelman's sent to the visitor's goal.
Manchester University opens 2015 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play Saturday, Oct. 3. The Spartans host Transylvania University of Kentucky with a 3:30 p.m. kickoff as part of a doubleheader with the women's squad at SSF.
