Crossroads League play is under way for the Spring Arbor University women's soccer team. The Cougars made the four hour trek down to Mount Vernon, Ohio to take on the Cougars of Mount Vernon Nazarene University Saturday and traveled home with a 3-1 victory for their efforts.
In a physical battle on a soft field, Spring Arbor did a nice job of creating some decent looks at the MVNU goal, but squandered several solid chances in the first 30 minutes of play. MVNU struck first in the match, when Jackie Mounre hit a 30 yard shot off a free kick awarded for a Spring Arbor foul. Mourne's effort got up in the stiff breeze and sailed over the top of Cougar netminder Sarah Yancer and into the back corner of the net to give the hosts a 1-0 advantage in the 34th minute. MVNU, which played the first half with the wind at their backs did not generate another shot in the opening frame.
Meanwhile Spring Arbor was very active on the offensive end of the field, tallying 11 shots in the opening half of play. Senior Karly Linton made good on one of her game high nine shots just four minutes after Mourne connected for the opening goal. Linton took a clever flick from freshman Alyssa Joseph and breezed through the left side of the MVNU defense before knockong home a sharp angled shot past MVNU's sprawling goalkeeper, Eleni Miller. The goal was Linton's 10th in as many games.
The second half saw things open up for Spring Arbor, as some good combination play between Linton and fellow senior Brooklyn Morgan left Morgan alone at the back post where she hammered home Linton's slotted pass for the game winner in the 63rd minute.
Morgan would also play a part in the insurance goal, as she turned and threaded a long through pass between MVNU defenders to sophomore Nikki Bonnema who was making a streaking run through a seam in the defense. Bonnema's first touch put her behind and in on Miller where she calmly slotted the ball to the back post for the 3-1 lead.
Spring Arbor finished the match with a decisive 22-2 advantage in shots and a commanding 8-0 advantage in corner kicks. Yancer picked up the win by making one stop.
NAIA #9 ranked Spring Arbor moves to 7-2-1 and 1-0 in Crossroads League play on the season with the win while MVNU falls to 4-5 and 0-1 in CL loop play.
SAU will hit the road again Tuesday night as they travel to Mishawaka, IN for another Crossroads League showdown, this time with the Bethel College Pilots. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 p.m.
