FORT WAYNE, Ind. -- Luke Jones netted a second-half match-winning free kick to push No. 14 Indiana Tech (1-0-3) past Goshen 2-1 for its first win of the 2022 season, after three draws to start the campaign. The win is also the first at Tech for head coach Paul Gilbert, who gets his first three points with the Orange and Black after joining the program in February.

Tech opened the match on the front foot, dominating possession in search of its first goal of the season. The early possession paid dividends as rookie midfielder Aaron Asamoah found fellow newcomer David Ambaek to put the Warriors in front 1-0 at the nine-minute mark. Asamoah found space in the ride side of the penalty area and cut the ball back to his deep-lying teammate for a cool one-touch finish past GC's Matias da Fonseca. 

Following the opener, Goshen began to find some success on the counter, with Weda Kisila, and substitutes Emmanuel Fakoyede and Mathurin Allawai creating the most problems.Fakoyede eventually broke loose on a feed from Lucas Bontreger to knot the score at 1-1 just four minutes before the break.

Despite surrendering the lead, the Warriors emerged from intermission with confidence and continued to build possession methodically from the back. Half chances from Asamoah and Jaume Castells Mas were indications of what was to come, though Goshen snapped back with another good fast-break chance from Kisila that forced reigning WHAC Defensive Player-of-the-Week Jaume Salvado into action with a kick save on the tight-angle effort in the 52nd minute. 

Substitute Jaime Rodriguez made an immediate impact with some feisty energy that drew a dangerous foul about 25 yards from goal, just left of center. Jones took it from there, with a dipping left-footed strike that beat da Fonseca high at the near post. Jones was involved in the build-up all night, finding pockets and distributing the ball effectively, but this was his first clear look at goal, and he took full advantage of the chance.

The Maple Leafs created one final opportunity in the 86th, again through Kisila, with the speedy striker getting on the end of a set-piece cross with a looping header that clanged the cross bar above the back-peddling Salvado. A rebound shot went harmlessly over the goal and out of play, 

Tech held a 16-9 edge in shots and earned six corner kicks to Goshen's four. Salvado finished with three saves and the win, despite seeing the ball go in to his goal for the first time in over 1000 minutes, dating back to the WHAC tournament semifinal last November. 

Gilbert's men are back in action against their fourth Crossroads League foe of the season on Wednesday, September 14, at Huntington University. The HU-Tech matches in recent years have all been spirited affairs, with the most recent match at King Field ending 1-0 in favor of the Foresters in 2019. Tech did take last year's home fixture by a 2-0 margin, with the goals coming from Lucca Motta and Maxwell Amoako on September 15.