WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The No. 1 ranked Spring Arbor University women's soccer team had its 32-match winning streak come to an end on Saturday night as the Cougars battled Crossroads League rival Grace College to a 0-0 double overtime draw.
Spring Arbor's run of consecutive wins will go down as the second-longest winning streak in NAIA history, behind only the University of Mobile's, which racked up 46 straight victories from 1997-98.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #1 Spring Arbor 0, Grace 0
LOCATION: 1st Source Bank Field | Winona Lake, Ind.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 13-0-1 (6-0-1 CL), Grace 4-6-3 (3-2-2 CL)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- In a physical and intense matchup, Grace was able to hold top-ranked Spring Arbor scoreless for the first time this season. Despite outshooting the Lancers 25-14, including 13 shots on goal, the Cougars were unable to find the back of the net.
- Spring Arbor nearly got on the scoreboard in the 19th minute when a shot from Bethany Balcer beat the GC goalkeeper, but her attempt bounced off the post.
- Balcer had another opportunity in the closing minutes of regulation with back-to-back shot attempts. Her first was blocked by a Lancer defender, but she gathered the rebound and fired a second shot that was turned away by the netminder.
- The Spring Arbor back line did not surrender many opportunities at all to the home team. Grace put four shots on target, but was unable to create anything dangerous. SAU goalkeeper Ashley Timmons made four saves on the night to earn her ninth clean sheet of the season.
- In all, the two sides were whistled for a combined 39 fouls and three yellow cards.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE
- The Cougars remain at the top of the league standings, holding a one point advantage over second place Taylor University (13-1-0, 6-1-0 CL).
- In addition to breaking Spring Arbor's overall winning streak, tonight's draw also snapped a streak of 33 consecutive Crossroads League victories, dating back to the 2012 campaign.
- The match marked the first time the Cougars have been held scoreless in 34 matches, and just the second time in their last 56 contests.
- The shutout by SAU was the team's 12th of the season, tied for the most in the country.
FOR THE FOES
- Meredith Hollar had five of the Lancers' 14 shots while three other players recorded two each.
- Goalkeeper Abby Schue registered a career-high 13 saves to preserve the shutout.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JASON CRIST
- "Tough result in tough conditions. The field conditions had a significant impact on a game that was also very physical from the opening whistle."
- "We need to be able to persevere through a variety of styles of soccer that are thrown at us."
- "We played well enough to win, but struggled getting the ball to settle down for the final pass or the finish."
- "I am very proud of our women for maintaining their composure and competing very hard."
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor will travel to Bethel College (4-11-0, 0-7-0 CL) on Wednesday, Oct. 19 before returning home to host Marian University (10-6-0, 5-2-0 CL) in the regular season finale on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.