ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – Behind goals from Aubrey Schierbeek and Bethany Balcer, the defending national champion Spring Arbor University women's soccer team will have a chance to capture its second straight title after defeating No. 12 Baker University (Kan.) 2-0 in the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Semifinals on Friday.

The No. 1 ranked, and top-seeded, Cougars seek to become the first team to capture back-to-back national titles since Lee University (Tenn.) won four straight from 2008-11.

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: #1 Spring Arbor 2, #12 Baker 0

LOCATION: Orange Beach Sportsplex | Orange Beach, Ala.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 22-0-1, Baker 17-4-3

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Spring Arbor dominated the stat sheet in a very physical contest with Baker. The Cougars outshot the Wildcats 18-1 for the game while also holding a 9-4 edge in corner kicks.
• The Cougars looked to strike quickly as Schierbeek took the opening kickoff down the field and ripped a shot from outside the 18-yard box that rang off the crossbar.
• After the early scare, Baker seized control and created a couple chances, including two corner kicks. However, the SAU defense, anchored by Rachel DeLancey, Sarah Klunder, Jacquelyn Martin and Kelly Hoffius, kept the Wildcats off the scoreboard.
• The momentum quickly turned though when Spring Arbor secured the contest's first goal in the eighth minute. Off a counter attack, Balcer found Schierbeek, who beat the BU goalkeeper in close to give the Cougars a 1-0 advantage.
• From that point on, it was all Spring Arbor. The Cougars generated several scoring opportunities over the next 35 minutes, but Baker was able to keep the deficit at one heading into halftime.
• Spring Arbor kept its foot on the gas in the second half searching for an insurance goal that would seal the game. In the 75th minute, the Cougars would find the score it was looking for with a strike from Balcer.
• Balcer finished with six shots, including three on goal, while Renee Broekhuizen and Schierbeek tallied four and three, respectively.
• SAU goalkeeper Ashley Timmons was credited with her 13th shutout of the season.

BEYOND THE BOXSCORE

• Spring Arbor advances to the national championship match for the second time in as many seasons and extend their unbeaten streak to 42 consecutive matches.
• The Cougars have posted shutouts in nine straight national tournament contests – one shy of the NAIA record set by Lindsey Wilson College from 2010-12.
• Making its eighth appearance, Spring Arbor is 13-5-2 all-time in the national tournament.
• The shutout by Spring Arbor was its 19th of the campaign, which is tied for the third most in a single-season in NAIA history.
• The goal by Balcer was her 31st of the season – breaking the program record for goals scored in a single-season, which she established last year. Balcer now stands alone in second place in the program's record book with 61 career scores.

FOR THE WILDCATS

• Kady Dieringer registered the lone shot for Baker. Her attempt sailed over the crossbar in the third minute of the match.
• Goalkeeper Rachel Hunt finished the afternoon with eight saves.
• Baker, which was making its second final four appearance in program history, finished its season with a 17-4-3 record.

QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH JASON CRIST

• "The women battled through another tough and physical game today and ground out a good result against a solid Baker team."
• "Aubrey Schierbeek was the best player on the field for either team today. Her ability to play as a target forward or in the midfield equally well make her such a valuable piece of our team. Aubrey won balls, broke players down on the dribble, controlled the flow of play and finished a match-winning goal. She even had another shot denied by the woodwork in the opening minute of the match." 
• "I am very proud of the women for the toughness and resolve that they have shown through this tournament. We haven't had the easiest of roads in, but they have been able to play one game at a time and continue to battle for each other. They are a very special group. I am looking forward to finishing the journey with them tomorrow."

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor will face off against No. 6 University of Northwestern Ohio (22-2-1) in the championship match on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. ET.

Women's Soccer Contact: Chris Bauman | 517-750-6504 | christopher.bauman@arbor.edu
SAU Athletics: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube
Women's Soccer: Twitter | Facebook