On Friday, the Cougars and the Tigers of Olivet Nazarene University seemed to be very evenly matched, as the two teams went toe to toe in the first half of play, combining for just six shots in the opening 45 minutes of play, three for each side.

Unfortunately for the Cougars, Olivet was able to make one of their three count, as

SAU was slow to clear their end on a short corner kick from the hosts and held a trio of ONU runners onside in the ensuing service, allowing for a numbers up situation at the back post for ONU and the opening goal of the match.

Spring Arbor responded in the second half by switching shapes and putting the host Tigers on their heels for the majority of the period. 

The pressure from the Cougars finally paid off when senior Kristin Abbott was fed the ball in a one on one situation about 25 yards from goal.  Abbott pushed the ball behind the defender and went to run past, but was grabbed by the ONU marking back.  The two got tangled up and the Tiger defender fell to the ground, leaving Abbott with a clear breakaway to the ONU net.  The Troy, Michigan native barreled into the Tiger penalty area with just the keeper to beat.  Just as Abbott was about to take her shot, a recovering ONU defender launched a tackle from behind that sent the Cougar spitfire sprawling forward on to the ground.  The official awarded SAU a penalty kick and issued a yellow card to ONU's Brittany Hengesh for the infraction.  Abbott was carried from the field and did not return for the weekend.

SAU's Maegan Smith calmly converted the SAU penalty kick to knot the score at one all.

SAU continued to press in the second half and eventually into overtime but just three minutes from the end of the second overtime ONU converted on a free kick opportunity after the ball bounced up and struck a Cougar defender in the arm near the top of the SAU penalty area.

ONU outshot SAU 9-6 in regulation and had two shots in the second overtime period.

Day two was also frustrating for the Lady Cougars, but for different reasons. 

Facing off with a strong Trinity International side, the Lady Cougars imposed their will from the opening whistle, creating many dangerous opportunities in front of the Trojan goal and outshooting TIU 15-5 through 90 minutes of regulation play.   Unfortunately for SAU, close doesn't count in soccer, and in spite of the dominating play of the Cougars, once the game went into overtime, it was TIU that found the energy that they needed to get the game winner, just three minutes from the end of the second overtime period.

"Hopefully we grew a lot this weekend," commented SAU head coach Jason Crist.  "Aside from the first half against Olivet, we played good soccer throughout, and I believe that we were the more dangerous team in both matches.  With important conference games upcoming, we are simply going to have to do a better job of finishing the good chances that we are creating."

Spring Arbor has this week off and will be preparing for a showdown with conference rival and NAIA #4 ranked Indiana Wesleyan University next Tuesday.  The game will be played at Spring Arbor and will start at 4:00 p.m.