ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – For the seventh time in program history, Spring Arbor University has reached the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Semifinals after defeating William Carey University 1-0 on Thursday.
Lexi Ponstein provided the game-winner, finding the back of the net in the seventh minute, while
Blair Currie was outstanding between the pipes making a season-best 11 saves.
THE BASICS
SCORE: (4) Spring Arbor 1, (5) William Carey 0
LOCATION: Orange Beach Sportsplex | Orange Beach, Ala.
RECORDS: Spring Arbor 17-1-3, William Carey 16-3-2
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
- Spring Arbor scored the only goal of the match in the seventh minute. Ponstein forced a William Carey turnover just outside the 18-yard box, quickly collected the ball and blasted a shot from the top of the box past the Crusader keeper.
- William Carey, which entered the day with the second-most goals scored in the NAIA this season, searched desperately for an equalizer in the second half, recording 20 shots in the period. However, Currie and the SAU defense were up to the task and kept the high-powered Crusaders off the scoreboard.
- Currie registered a season-best 11 saves in the shutout victory.
- The clean sheet was the 19th of the year for SAU – tied for the most in the country.
- Spring Arbor returns to the national semifinals for the seventh time in program history and for the first time since 2020. In addition to those, the Cougars have made final four appearances in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018.
UP NEXT
Spring Arbor will meet the winner of the Keiser University and Aquinas College matchup in the tournament semifinals on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. ET.
