MEN’S SOCCER

The Huntington men’s soccer team’s season came to a close Tuesday evening with a 2-1 loss to second-seeded and 8th-ranked Indiana Wesleyan in the Crossroads League Tournament quarterfinals at Wildcat Field. The Foresters entered as the No. 7 seed, and after the two squads played to a scoreless draw during the regular season, this one again proved competitive to the end.

IWU generated steady pressure throughout, finishing with a 21-10 advantage in total shots and a 9-1 margin in corner kicks. Even so, shots on goal were nearly even, with the Wildcats holding only a slim 5-4 edge.

The hosts broke through in the 37th minute and added another in the 68th to build a 2-0 cushion, but the Foresters refused to fold. With just over seven minutes remaining, Thiago Fernando rose up and buried a header to pull HU within one. The goal, his team-leading seventh of the season, sparked a late push that saw Huntington generate multiple dangerous possessions before time expired.

To HU’s credit, their determination was on full display. They defended with grit, limited high-quality looks down the stretch, and battled until the final whistle in a match that marked Indiana Wesleyan’s first win over Huntington since 2015. With the victory, the Wildcats advance to Friday’s semifinal where they will host third-seeded Grace. The Foresters finish out the year at 4-9-5.