After a rain delay postponing the game, the Spring Arbor University women's soccer team met rival Indiana Wesleyan University on the road homecoming Saturday for a physical conference match up. The game resulted in the Lady Cougars' first conference loss falling to the Wildcats 1-3, leaving SAU with an overall record of 7-5-1 and a conference record of 2-1. Both teams are gaining national recognition as SAU is in the receiving votes ratings, while IWU is ranked 11th.
Both teams came out aggressively in the first half despite the muddy field conditions, but it was the Lady Cougars that put away the first goal of the match. In the 21st minute of play freshman Braydan Wiles beat her player to the line on the left side of the field putting up a lofted cross. Junior Jessica Clarke, positioned inside the box, headed the cross into the upper right corner of the net past the Wildcat goalie. Within five minutes of play the Wildcats answered the goal finishing an opportunity off of a cross from the left side of the field. Before half, IWU found another goal that resulted from a rebound.
Early in the second half Indiana Wesleyan was able to get off an arching floater shot inside the Cougar box just over the head of senior goalie Flo Atar. Later in the half, the Lady Cougars were awarded a free kick that sophomore Alyssa Curtis placed inside the Wildcat box. Clarke met the ball and beat a Wildcat defender shooting the ball past the IWU goal keeper. In a controversial decision, the sideline official ruled the play off-sides.
"The score does not reflect the play in this game," commented head coach Jason Crist. "I am proud of the team for their effort, and we look forward to a possible rematch in the conference tournament."
The Spring Arbor University women's soccer team is back at it with conference play on the road Tuesday October 13th to play Huntington University at 4:00 p.m.
