The Spring Arbor University women's soccer team accomplished something Tuesday that no other team has been able to do this season. Beat the Marian University Knights.
The previously unbeaten and NAIA #15 ranked Knights had only been scored on twice this season and brought a 15-0-1 record into Spring Arbor for a rematch of last season's conference championship match where Marian clipped Spring Arbor in Indianapolis 1-0 to earn their first MCC regular season championship.
Spring Arbor (11-5-2) who is receiving votes in the latest NAIA top 25 poll, controlled much of the match from the outset, forcing Marian into their own end and creating a pair of good chances early in the match. It wasn't until the 33rd minute however, that SAU would find the back of the Marian net. Heidi Sharp got on the end of a Jalese DeBiasi corner kick and slid it under the Knight's goalkeeper for the opening tally. The score would remain 1-0 through the end of the first half.
The second half saw Spring Arbor come out and create a pair of great chances early. In the first ten minutes Kristin Abbott beat her marker around the corner twice and served a pair of dangerous balls across the top of the Marian six yard box, but as the SAU attackers crashed the area, Marian defenders were able to deflect their shot attempts and escape the dangerous situation. Moments later Abbott got on the end of a Christina Riske cross and found herself with just the Knight keeper to beat. Taking the ball on the short hop Abbott was not able to get all she wanted on the shot and her effort was snatched up without incident by the MU netminder.
As time wound down, the visitors began desperately looking for the tying goal. A physical challenge along the sidelines with about 15 minutes remaining left Cougar forward Ali Nichols to be carried off the field, and the break in the game seemed to shift the momentum of the match towards the visitors. With just four minutes remaining an unmarked Marian midfielder took control of a loose ball and rifled a nearly 30 yard shot into the upper left corner of the SAU net to tie the game. With neither team able to capitalize again in regulation, the sides moved to overtime to settle the affair.
Neither team registered a shot in the first overtime period, but Spring Arbor seized momentum back in the final period. The Lady Cougars registered three shots in the first four minutes of the final ten minute period, and eventually found the game winner that they were looking for.
Jessica Clarke beat a defender at the top of the box and unleashed a right footed bullet that seemed destined for the lower right corner of the Marian net. A diving save from the Knight goalkeeper thwarted the initial attempt, but Abbott was lurking nearby and polished off the rebound for her 9th goal of the season.
Spring Arbor outshot Marian 14-11 in the match and held a 3-2 advantage in corner kicks as well.
"I am proud of how hard we competed and how we regained our composure in the face of adversity," commented SAU head coach Jason Crist. "We played a good game and deserved this win. Playing a tough schedule has helped prepare us for these kinds of situations, and our team showed today that we are one of the top teams in the country."
The Cougars will face off with Taylor University in the first round of the MCC playoffs on Saturday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 2:00 p.m. and will be played on Spring Arbor's campus.
