Dayton, TN - The Men's Soccer team made it back after playing two big matches in Dayton, Tennessee. Grace, currently the #5 ranked team in the NCCAA, would be tested as they faced matchups between the #3 NCCAA ranked team in Boyce College, and the #1 NCCAA ranked team in Pensacola Christian. 

First up on Thursday was #3 Boyce College. The game started and the Tigers found themselves quickly behind after Boyce headed in a corner. Grace provided a sound response when Nate Davis played a great ball through which Isiah Ford belted into the back of the net leveling it at 1-1. Grace would take the edge in shots 18 (5) to Boyce 13 (5), corners GCU 5, BC 3. Unable to break the deadlock, the match ended with a 1-1 draw. 

Another strong test would be provided less than 24 hours later with Grace facing the #1 ranked NCCAA side Pensacola Christian. Grace would be first to jump on the score sheet when freshman Rukundo Masengesho made a great play and shot which the Pensacola keeper made a great initial save, but the alert Masengesho then finished the rebound. Pensacola would answer and knott the score at 1-1. Grace pushed on to once again take the lead this time from Kameron Link who took a ball flicked on from Camden Bierling. Kameron settled the ball, beat the defender then using calmness and quality put it past the keeper to go up 2-1. The Tigers came extremely close to making it 3-1 when Isaiah Ford hit the post. Pensacola as expected would be a difficult opponent and they drew level 2-2. The second half was an all battle that saw both sides have chances but neither able to score, ending in a 2-2 draw. 

Head Coach Dustin Buchanan had this to say after the trip: "Our trip this week was a real test for us. One that featured the NCCAA #5, #3, and #1 team against one another. I was proud of how we reacted in the Boyce game after conceding from a corner, to really push on and fight with intensity and quality. I felt we were a bit unfortunate not to get a second, but Coach Ward has a solid team who were determined to keep us from netting another one. Pensacola match was always going to be tough as not only are they the #1 team in our division, but we were also playing a back to back. Taking the lead twice and giving the effort, positivity, I am really pleased with the display of play and having higher expectations of how we do things. Overall the trip was a great experience growing faith, unity, and soccer." 

The Tigers return to Velting Field on Wednesday evening as they face rival Great Lakes Christian College.