A near thirty yard strike from Lindsey Wilson College's Mia Persson with exactly one minute remaining in the first half proved to be the difference in the game as Spring Arbor University fell 1-0 to NAIA #4 ranked and two time NAIA National Champion Lindsey Wilson College on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders and the Lady Cougars played a even match in nearly every category, with SAU holding the edge in shots (13-12) and Lindsey Wilson enjoying a small bulge in corner kicks (3-2).
After being outshot 5-3 in the opening half, Spring Arbor roared to life in the second stanza, firing 10 shots to LWC's 7. Spring Arbor was able to get behind the Blue Raider's defense on several occasions throughout the match and squandered several golden goal scoring opportunities, including a pair inside the six yard box late in the game.
"We performed very well, especially considering our current injury situation," commented SAU head coach
Jason Crist. "We had four key players who we had to use on a very limited basis, as they are returning from injuries, and I think we carried a large portion of the play in spite of that fact."
Persson's goal was an unassisted looping, long range effort that Cougar goalkeeper
Christina Riske got a hand to, but kissed the inside of the right upright, dribbled across the goal line and into the far corner of the net.
"I am sure the girls are disappointed in the result, but not in their effort," noted Crist. "We played hard, and to have the game decided on that kind of goal is a bit heart-wrenching. Christina played a great match, and there was nothing more she could have done for us back there."
Riske finished the game with five saves while her LWC counterpart Jordan Morrison was credited with four.
Spring Arbor, who is receiving votes in the preseason NAIA Top 25 Women's Soccer Poll, will now travel to Wilmore, KY to take on Asbury University on Wednesday, August 25. The match will kick off at 4:00 p.m. EST.
