Grand Rapids, Mich. – Whatever sour taste remained from the 2025 season, Aquinas men's soccer Head Coach Luke Ruff was determined to have his team use it as motivation to improve, compete harder and play more completely in 2026. Saturday offered the Saints their first opportunity to show that message had resonated loud and clear. After a pair of preseason scrimmages over the previous 10 days, Aquinas officially opened its new campaign in front of an enthusiastic home crowd ready to see what Ruff's roster could become. The Saints rewarded the AQ faithful with an early goal, a determined defensive performance and a season-opening shutout.
Aquinas 1, Indiana University Northwest 0
Senior Trae Collins supplied the decisive moment in the ninth minute, scoring his first goal of the season to give Aquinas an early 1-0 advantage. Evan Goodfellow forced Indiana Northwest goalkeeper Carter Levesque into a save just nine seconds before Collins converted the game's only goal at 9:19. Chase Jacobs Gries nearly doubled the lead in the 16th minute, but Levesque stopped his header before another Jacobs Gries attempt was blocked later in the half. Marcos Real and Fikret Hasovic also generated first-half opportunities as Aquinas consistently searched for an insurance goal. Austin Tucker put his attempt on frame just before halftime, sending the Saints into the break with the advantage intact.
The Red Hawks produced eight first-half shots, but goalkeeper Dario Cela stood tall each time he was tested. Cela made all six of his saves during the opening 45 minutes, including four within the first 31 minutes and two more late in the half. Indiana Northwest attempted to increase its pressure after halftime, earning three additional corner kicks, but the Aquinas defense refused to concede a shot on goal.
Maurice Chandler Jr. provided two of the Saints' best second-half opportunities, placing a header on frame in the 63rd minute before sending another narrowly high in the 71st. Real added one more blocked attempt in the 80th minute as Aquinas continued working to create breathing room. The Saints finished with 10 shots, including five on goal, with Chandler leading AQ with two attempts. Goodfellow, Collins, Jacobs Gries and Tucker joined Chandler in placing shots on target.
Joseph Farhat, Brian Mosqueda, Miguel Gonzalez, Carter Hagan and Logan McClure helped form a defensive unit that repeatedly answered the Red Hawks' challenges. The back line showed its speed and strength in individual battles, but its greatest asset was a collective commitment to covering for one another and competing as a connected group. Indiana Northwest finished with 12 shots and six corner kicks, yet the Saints' organized defense ensured that none of the Red Hawks' four second-half attempts reached Cela. Aquinas protected its one-goal advantage through the final whistle, giving Cela a six-save shutout and the Saints a hard-earned victory to begin the 2026 season.
Saints Snapshots
- 5 – Threats on Target: Five different Saints placed a shot on goal: Maurice Chandler Jr., Evan Goodfellow, Trae Collins, Chase Jacobs Gries and Austin Tucker.
- 4 – Second-Half Stand: Indiana Northwest attempted four shots after halftime, but the AQ defense prevented all four from reaching Dario Cela.
- 3 – Chasing Another: Aquinas generated three second-half shots while continuing to push for an insurance goal.
- 2 – Complete Halves: The Saints protected their early lead through both halves, combining Cela's six first-half saves with a defense that allowed no shots on goal in the second.
- 1 – Goal, Win and Clean Sheet: Collins' ninth-minute strike was all Aquinas needed to begin the season 1-0 with a shutout.
Coach's Comments
When the clock reached zero, Ruff was pleased with the opening-day shutout and the collective effort of his team, but he was also quick to emphasize that one victory represents only the beginning.
"I was proud of the way our guys competed for one another and stayed committed to the team for the entire 90 minutes," Ruff said. "We scored early, Dario made some important saves and our defense showed its speed, strength and willingness to battle in difficult one-on-one situations. Earning a shutout and a victory in our opener is a good first step, but we know there is still a lot of work ahead of us. We play in one of the strongest conferences in the country, so we have to keep improving, remain connected and bring that same competitive mentality every day."
Up Next
The Saints will return to action Wednesday when they travel to Indiana for their first road contest of the season. Aquinas will challenge Taylor in Upland, Indiana, with the match scheduled for a 7 p.m. start. Complete postgame coverage will be available on AQSaints.com late Wednesday night.
Be sure to visit AQSaints.com for live statistics, streaming links and complete postgame coverage of Aquinas men's soccer and all other AQ Athletics programs.
It's a great day to be a Saint.
