Watertown, WI - The Martin Luther College men's soccer team defeated Maranatha Baptist in a road contest 5-2 for their first victory of the 2023 campaign.

The Knights bounced back from their season debut yesterday when they lost 9-0 to Saint Mary's. On Saturday, the Knights struck the scoring column early on with a goal at the 2:09 mark from their leading goal scorer a season ago, Nathan Pausma. Maranatha would even score 1-1 at the 23 minute mark, but Isaias Santos broke that tie with his first goal of the season a few minutes later. MLC would have multiple shots attempted towards the goal for the remainder of the first half, but were unable to convert and went into intermission up 2-1 over the Sabercats.

The second period started with a costly yellow card from Maranatha's Ian Balyo, resulting in a penalty goal kick by Josiah Wordell. The senior cashed in on the opportunity, putting the Knights up 3-1 in the opening minutes. The Sabercats would soon after get a penalty kick chance of their own after an MLC foul, but missed their shot wide of the net.

Both teams would go the next 20 minutes scoreless until Wordell hit his second penalty goal kick of the game to make it 4-1. The Knights scored their fifth goal of the game shortly after when midfielder Matthew Koelpin scored his first of the season.

The Knights showed much improvement from their first game of the season and had many more chances at the net with seven shots on goal. In addition to Wordell's two goals, the senior also had three shots on goal. 

MLC (1-1) will look to secure their second win of the young season with an away game at Dakota Wesleyan on Wednesday, September 6, at 7:30 p.m.