The Spring Arbor University women's soccer team rebounded from a disappointing first outing last week with a 4-1 victory over Asbury University on the road in Wilmore, Kentucky tonight.
The Cougars used solo goals from four different players to secure the victory. Freshman Rachel Shive scored her first varsity goal mid way through the first half to get the Cougars out to a lead that they would never relinquish. Shive got on the end of a service from sophomore goalkeeper Sarah Yancer after an Eagle foul just shy of midfield. Shive spun her defender to the inside and unleashed a right footed bullet from about 20 yards out to open the scoring.
Senior Karly Linton made it 2-0 in the 52nd minute when she navigated a host of defenders and tallied a solo strike from about 18 yards out to push the lead to 2-0 SAU. Linton was active throughout the night and racked up a game high nine shots.
Two minutes later Shive fed senior Brooklyn Morgan through the middle of the Eagle defense and Morgan finished the play to make the score 3-0. Asbury struck back quickly, surprising the Cougars who seemingly had the match in hand. A ball over the top of the Cougar back four found a streaking Asbury forward who walked in alone on Yancer. Yancer parried the attempt to the far post, but the shot hit iron on the back upright and bounded right to an unmarked Eagle who polished off the rebound into an empty net.
With the game 3-1, junior Samantha Sturgeon went to work and tallied the final goal of the match just two minutes later in the 58th minute.
The Cougars dominated both possession and field position during the contest, firing 37 shots to just four for the home team. Sophomore goalkeeper Lizzie Hoffa tallied fifteen saves for the home team while Yancer made just one stop for the visiting Cougars.
Spring Arbor also bested the Eagles in a showdown of the reserve teams prior to the varsity match. Sophomore Nikki Bonnema and freshman Alyse Anderson netted goals for the Cougars in the 2-1 victory.
Spring Arbor (1-1) will return home and take on NAIA #1 rated Lindsey Wlson College on Saturday in a 7:00 p.m. matinee.
