Box Score FRANKLIN, Ind. – It had been more than 480 days since the Manchester University men's soccer team last saw action. The Black & Gold took to the pitch tonight on the road at Franklin College, and the Spartans did not come back home empty handed.
Manchester used a trio of second half goals to earn a 3-1 victory over the Grizzlies to open Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference play.
After both teams played to a scoreless draw through the game's first 45 minutes of action, Manchester would go on to net the game's first goal of the night.
In the 53rd minute, sophomore Ruben Gonzalez (Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Northview) curled a corner kick into the back of the net to break the scoreless draw.
Manchester would push its lead to 2-0 in the 62nd minute when freshman Harley Kruschwitz (North Manchester, Ind./Manchester) scored his first career goal.
The Grizzlies showed some life late in Tuesday's contest. A goal by Franklin's Eddy Yousak in the 81st minute got the Grizzlies on the scoreboard.
Just three minutes later, Manchester's Josh Gonzalez (Portage, Ind./Portage) converted a penalty kick to seal the game for the Black & Gold.
Franklin held a 9-8 advantage in shots on Tuesday, but the Spartans commanded a 9-3 margin in corner kicks.
Manchester (1-0, 1-0 HCAC) will head to Transylvanian on Saturday, March 6, for a 3:30 p.m. matchup with the Pioneers.
Franklin (0-1, 0-1 HCAC) will travel to Defiance College on Saturday, March 6.
