ORIGINALLY WRITTEN BY TOM STOPPEL
The Tabor College men’s soccer teams traveled Lindsborg Friday needing a win to remain in contention for post-season conference play.
Tabor lost in overtime, 2-1.
Tabor started well when Chris Adrian drilled a penalty kick past the Swede keeper 10 minutes into the match to put Tabor on top 1-0.
Neither team scored for the next 35 minutes as Tabor clung to its 1-0 lead at halftime.
“We came out in the second half and missed several scoring chances,” coach Herb Wiebe said. “We were just running out of gas, but you have to put them away when you have the chance.”
It wasn’t until six minutes remained in the contest that Bethany tied the match at 1-1.
“They were actually down a man when they scored that goal because one of their players got red carded at the 15-minute mark,” Wiebe said. “We were thinking things were going to happen for us, but they scored a pretty nice goal on a free kick so at least it wasn’t a cheap goal.”
Tabor threatened several times down the stretch and narrowly missed three shots on goal as the game went into overtime.
Bethany then secured the win 1:30 into the extra period.
“We had a breakdown on defense,” Wiebe said. “Our keeper (David Campbell) came out to cut down the angle, but the guy just slid it past him to the near post for the goal.”
With the loss, Tabor was eliminated from post-season play while falling to 1-5-1 in KCAC play.
Ottawa-Tabor lost at Ottawa Thursday, 4-0.
“We didn’t play well at all,” coach Herb Wiebe said. “I know our keeper (Ian Thomson) would love to have three of those goals back. We never really challenged them. We just didn’t have any team chemistry.”
Tabor trailed 1-0 at halftime.
The Braves scored all three of their second-half goals in the final 15 minutes of the game.
“Playing this match was pretty tough on the guys,” Wiebe said.
“We were just mentally and emotionally worn out from the week and it was understandably hard to get excited and up for this game.”
Coming-Tabor was to play McPherson in a game previously scheduled for Oct. 15.
On Wednesday, the regular season ends for the men when they travel to Wichita to battle Friends University.
