SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS, Ind. — Mats Flick scored twice, including a late equalizer, as the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's soccer team battled Indiana University Columbus to a 3-3 draw Sunday afternoon in River States Conference action at McMahon Field.
The Pomeroys (5-8-3, 2-3-1 RSC) struck twice in the opening half before rallying from a second-half deficit to secure the draw. Flick led the offensive effort with two goals on four shots, while
Ivan Gelado Chavala added a goal and
Marc Valderrama,
Ethan Johnson and
Jacobo Galvez each recorded an assist.
SMWC wasted little time applying pressure, with Valderrama and Andres Gomes forcing saves in the opening seven minutes. That early aggression paid off at the 7:29 mark when Gelado Chavala finished a chance created by Valderrama to give the Pomeroys a 1-0 advantage.
IU Columbus answered in the 25th minute when Maruwe Exauce converted a feed from Trent Schenk to even the contest. The Pomeroys continued generating opportunities, with Johnson and Gomes testing Crimson Pride goalkeeper Jordin Jones before Flick delivered his first goal of the afternoon in the 39th minute. Johnson provided the assist on the go-ahead strike, sending SMWC into halftime with a 2-1 lead.
The Crimson Pride responded just 1:41 into the second half as Schenk scored off an assist from Exauce to level the match at 2-2. SMWC looked to regain control, with Gelado Chavala, Johnson,
Franco Mauri and Flick each putting shots on target over the next 11 minutes, but Jones kept the Pomeroys off the scoreboard.
IU Columbus pulled ahead in the 69th minute when Marckenson Paul found the net to give the visitors their first lead of the afternoon.
Facing a 3-2 deficit, the Pomeroys continued pressing forward. Flick narrowly missed an opportunity in the 76th minute before delivering the equalizer at 76:59, finishing a pass from Galvez to complete his two-goal performance and bring SMWC level at 3-3.
Both teams threatened in the closing minutes. Valderrama forced another save in the 80th minute, while goalkeeper
Harry Jackson turned away several late IU Columbus attempts. The Pomeroys nearly found a winner in the 88th minute when F. Villagomez-Leon's header was stopped by a team save, preserving the deadlock.
Flick's two-goal outing highlighted an SMWC attack that generated 19 shots, including 15 on goal. Gelado Chavala contributed four shots, while Valderrama added four attempts, three on target, and an assist. Johnson finished with three shots on goal and an assist, while Gomes placed both of his attempts on frame.
Jackson anchored the defensive effort with 14 individual saves across 90 minutes, including eight in the second half, helping the Pomeroys withstand an IU Columbus attack that registered 22 shots.
IU Columbus (5-8-1, 1-3-1 RSC) received goals from Exauce, Schenk and Paul, while Jones finished with 11 individual saves.
Up Next
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College will close its 2026 regular season Saturday, Oct. 31, when the Pomeroys host Kentucky Christian University for Senior Day at McMahon Field. The River States Conference matchup is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET, with SMWC set to recognize its seniors as part of the season finale.
