ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – For the first time in program history, the Women's Soccer team is heading to the Final Four in the NAIA National Championship Tournament. The Lady Cougars went toe to toe with Vanguard University (CA) for 110 minutes and neither team could score in a physical, hard fought match. The match was declared a tie but Spring Arbor University will advance the Semi-Final match based on a 4-3 advantage in penalty kicks.
Spring Arbor had the advantage in shots in both the first and second periods in regulation play, but Vanguards keeper was solid in the net making four saves in regulation.
The Vanguard Lions had a total of seven shots during regulation, and Cougar Keeper Sarah Yancer stopped all three shots on goal as Yancer notched her 14th shutout of the year.
The Lions had a whopping 11-2 advantage in corner-kicks.
The overtime period had a couple of scary moments for both sides as Cougar standout Carly Linton had two really solid looks that she would normally give the opposing keeper fits with, but she was nudged a bit on one try and missed on another.
Vanguard's Jordan Davidson gave the Cougar faithful a scare as well in the second overtime with a clear shot from about 18 yards that sailed high which caused quite a groan from the fans from California.
The penalty kick session had tensions at a full pitch at both the stadium and in the Ralph Carey Forum where Cougar Nation was cheering the ladies on.
It didn't look promising early on when the Lions made their first three penalty kicks and only Megan Wegener made her kick to put the Cougars down 1-3. Ashley DeNio then made her kick to make it 2-3, Vanguard.
This is where Yancer made a clutch stop and a Lion shot sailed high while Maegan Smith made her shot and that gave Cheyenne Martinez-Trevino an opportunity to end the match but her shot was stopped to make the PK score 3-3 after five shot each.
Sarah Yancer made a great diving save on Vanguard's Lauren Evans shot to the inside of the left post to set the stage for the Cougar's Courtney Harrison. Harrison calmly punched the ball low to the left and a stunned Lion Keeper Lauren Terry could only watch as the ball nicked the inside of the left post and into the net for the result the Cougars needed for a Final Four appearance.
The Cougars will enjoy a much needed day of recuperation and rest before they face a common foe in Lindsey Wilson who dismantled Embry Riddle earlier in the day 3-0. SAU and Lindsey Wilson have opened their seasons against each other for several years now and know each other well. The last two matches have ended in ties.
The Semi Finals are set with No. 12 Olivet Nazarene (IL) (19-3-0) vs. No. 1 Lee (TN) (20-1-1) on Friday at 2:00 EST, then No. 6 Spring Arbor (21-2-1) vs. Lindsey Wilson (KY) (18-4-1) at 4:30 EST. The winner of each match will play for the crown on Saturday at 6:00 pm EST.
