The Spring Arbor University women's soccer team again did a great job in limiting a league opponent to a handful of shots Saturday, as the Cougars conceded just four attempts to host Taylor University on the road in Upland, Indiana today.  On the other end of the field, Spring Arbor unloaded 22 attempts of their own.  As is sometimes the case in soccer, the scoreboard did not match the stat sheet when the final whistle blew.

Spring Arbor jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the sixth minute when junior Karly Linton finished a pass from roommate Brooklyn Morgan from about 15 yards away from the net.  The Cougars would go on to out-shoot the hosts Trojans 8-1 in the opening frame of play, including several good looks in front of the TU goal, but were unable to pad their lead and headed into halftime break up 1-0.

Early in the second half play began to open up, as Spring Arbor created several point blank shots in front of the hosts goal, including a pair of shots off the crossbar and a trio of splendid one on one saves from TU netminder Kristina Griffith.  The blown chances would come back to haunt the Cougars in the 54th minute of play when a turnover at the top of the Spring Arbor defensive third led to a long cross played into the back post where Taylor forward Cara Johnson nodded it home past Spring Arbor goalkeeper Sarah Yancer.  The goal was the first that the Cougars had conceded in over 700 minutes of play and came on just Taylor's second shot of the contest. 

Spring Arbor responded just four minutes later when senior Maegan Smith beat her marker down the line and served a ball across the the top of the Trojan six yard box where Morgan buried it first time past Griffith's dive.

The score remained 2-1 until there were just 2:54 left in the contest and a botched clearance was picked up by Taylor's Molly Drooger.  Drooger fed Johnson on the left side of the SAU penalty area and the senior striker hit a left footed effort that just eluded Yancer's sprawl and settled just inside the far post to even the match.  The goal came on Taylor's fourth and final shot of the contest.

The match headed into extra time and six minutes into the first extra period Spring Arbor was able to connect on the tally that would end the match.  Senior Braydan Wiles found Linton streaking right up the middle of the field and fed her through the Taylor defense.  Linton fought off a challenge from the Trojan center back before calmly sliding the ball under Griffith for the game winner.

"As a team we always talk about the fact that great teams find ways to win matches when they need to," commented SAU head coach Jason Crist.  "Today we weren't at our best from a health standpoint, but we bore down and found a way to get the result.  I am proud of our women for how hard they fought and how they played confidently from whistle to whistle.  Giving up two goals on four shots is not something we are used to, and the players responded well to adversity."

"I give full credit to Taylor," finished Crist. "They had two great goals, both were very good finishes.  They played with spirit, and they have a good team.  However, statistically we dominated this match and could have easily knocked in a few more.  Every match in the Crossroads League is going to be fiercely contested this year.  We are excited to be playing in such a competitive league."

The Cougars will be back in action on Tuesday when they welcome Grace College to campus for a 7 p.m. tilt.  Grace nipped NAIA #25 ranked Indiana Wesleyan University 3-2 in other Crossroads League action today.  Spring Arbor sits in first place in the Crossroads League tables at 4-0 while Grace resides in the #2 spot at 3-1.