MISHAWAKA, Ind. – Spring Arbor University's postseason run came to an end on Saturday, falling to top-seeded, and No. 6 ranked nationally, Bethel University 1-0 in the Crossroads League Tournament Championship.
The two sides were scoreless through 86 minutes, but with just over three minutes remaining in the match, Bethel caught a break and was awarded a penalty kick. The Pilots were able to convert the chance and captured their second straight Crossroads League Tournament title and earned the league's automatic bid to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Spring Arbor 0, (6) Bethel 1
LOCATION: Mishawaka, Ind.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 7-6-7, Bethel 19-1-1
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
- Spring Arbor came into Saturday's title game looking to capture its second Crossroads League Tournament championship in three years. The improbable run by the Cougars, the tournament's No. 6-seed, began with an upset over No. 3-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University in the quarterfinals before knocking off No. 2-seeded Grace College to set up a meeting with the league's top team in the title game.
- Bethel, who claimed the Crossroads League regular season championship with an unblemished 9-0-0 record, entered the day with a 16-match winning streak.
- The match was scoreless through the first 86 minutes with neither team able to find the back of the net. However, in the 87th minute, SAU was called for a foul in the box setting up a penalty kick opportunity for Bethel, and Eduardo Da Silva converted the PK to help lift the Pilots to their second straight tournament title.
- Spring Arbor goalkeeper Matt LeBlanc finished the match with four saves.
