BOURBONNAIS, Ill. –
Micah Vasey scored with one second remaining to lift No. 20 Spring Arbor University to a 2-2 draw on the road against No. 12 Olivet Nazarene University on Saturday.
Spring Arbor moved to 8-0-1 on the season, while Olivet Nazarene moved to 4-0-2. The result closed out an unbeaten non-conference schedule for the Cougars.
The two nationally-ranked sides played through a scoreless opening 45 minutes. Olivet Nazarene generated nine shots in the first half, but goalkeeper
Soren Goubely Dondaine made six saves to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard. SAU put three of its four first-half attempts on frame.
Spring Arbor broke through in the 57th minute. Following a Cougar corner kick,
Ryan Nees found the back of the net to put SAU in front 1-0.
Olivet Nazarene responded in the 70th minute when Atjon Thaqi converted a penalty kick to even the match at 1-1. Thaqi struck again in the 82nd minute. Dondaine initially stopped another penalty kick, but Thaqi scored following the save to give the Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
The Cougars continued to push for the equalizer in the closing minutes and earned one final corner kick with seconds remaining. Olivet Nazarene initially cleared the service, but
Caleb Swartzendruber sent the ball back into the box to keep the opportunity alive. The ball eventually fell to Vasey in front of goal, and he punched it home with just one second remaining to pull Spring Arbor even at 2-2.
Olivet Nazarene finished with a 21-12 advantage in shots, while Spring Arbor put nine of its 12 attempts on goal. The Cougars held a 5-3 edge in corner kicks. Dondaine finished with a season-high nine saves in goal for SAU.
Vasey and Nees each scored for the Cougars, while
Will Kuiphof led SAU with three shots.
Spring Arbor now turns its attention to Crossroads League play. The Cougars open conference action on the road against No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan University on Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
