SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – Madison Marshall scored two goals to lead top-seed Spring Arbor University past No. 4-seed Northwestern Ohio in the first game of the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round on Thursday afternoon at the Cougar Soccer Complex.

With the win, the Cougars advance to the championship game of the Spring Arbor Bracket to face off against No. 2-seed Lindsey Wilson College. The match is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 17 at 3 p.m.

 
THE BASICS
SCORE: Spring Arbor 2, Northwestern Ohio 0
LOCATION: Cougar Soccer Complex | Spring Arbor, Mich.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 12-2-1, Northwestern Ohio 8-4-0

 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Spring Arbor dominated possession throughout the first half, posting an 11-0 shot advantage over Northwestern Ohio. Despite the shot disparity, UNOH managed to keep the Cougars off the scoreboard for most of the period.
• The Cougars were able to breakthrough late in the stanza, however. After a long ball from Rebekah Cotton was played into the box, Melanie Srouji found Marshall at the top of the 18-yard box, and her shot ricocheted off a Racer defender and into the goal.
• Marshall struck again in the 80th minute, finishing a cross from Lexi Ponstein to put the game out of reach.
• Spring Arbor outshot Northwestern Ohio 16-1 on the afternoon and held a 9-0 advantage in corner kicks. It was the third straight shutout for the Cougars and the 11th overall on the season.

 

UP NEXT
Spring Arbor will meet a familiar foe when it squares off against Lindsey Wilson in the Spring Arbor Bracket championship match. The winner of the Saturday's showdown will move on to the national tournament final site in Foley, Alabama.

The Cougars own a 3-1-1 record against the Blue Raiders over the last five meetings dating back to the 2015 season.