Grace College Roundup: Lady Lancers Play To DrawWINONA LAKE – Playing at less than full strength, Grace College’s women’s soccer team still produced a 1-1 tie with Georgetown on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers thought they had beaten Georgetown, a team that is also receiving votes in the NAIA. But an overtime goal from Jenni Phillips was controversially disallowed for being offsides.
Grace had 21 shots in the match, including 14 on goal. The Lady Lancers also had a 1-0 lead heading into the second half.
But the Tigers capitalized on a defensive error to tie the game, and neither side could score again.
Autumn Raulerson scored the first goal of the match in spectacular fashion. Clair Snodgrass was fouled at the edge of the penalty box, and Raulerson took the free kick. The freshman curled her 20-yard attempt into the net at the 7:28 mark.
The rest of the half was placid as Grace took that 1-0 lead into halftime. Grace also held an 8-4 shot advantage.
Georgetown regained its footing in the second half. The Tigers took the first six shots of the second half, including the game-tying goal. Georgetown pounced on a defensive miscue by Grace to score in the 61st minute.
With 15 minutes remaining in the game, Grace’s offense shifted into attack mode. Hannah Tkacz nearly scored on a tremendous individual effort, dribbling her way from midfield to the top of the penalty box. But Tkacz’s shot was deflected wide.
Phillips and Snodgrass tried two shots apiece in the final 10 minutes, but all four shots were saved.
Raulerson almost won the game with five minutes to go. She made a charge on the left side of the field and sliced a left-footed shot under pressure towards the Tigers’ goal, but Georgetown’s goalkeeper made a leaping save.
In the first overtime, Phillips and Raulerson combined on an attack, but Raulerson’s shot rolled just wide of the far post. Minutes later, Liz Van Wormer had a low shot that was saved.
The most-talked-about moment of the match came in the second overtime period. With three minutes remaining, Raulerson played a leading pass to Phillips, who ran by two defenders and calmly scored the apparent game winner, only to be denied by an offsides call on the pass from Raulerson.
Grace continued to be the aggressor and had two more attacking opportunities in the final minutes, but the match ended 1-1 after 110 minutes.
Phillips had five shots, all on goal, to lead Grace’s attack.
Tkacz, Carlie Salinas, Sabina Meyers and Allison Vroon defended Grace’s territory relentlessly all match. Grace’s defense has allowed just two goals over the last 668 minutes of action.
The Lady Lancers remain at home next week. Grace will host Ohio Christian at 7 p.m. in the final nonleague match of the year.
Volleyball
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s volleyball team picked up its third straight win with a 3-1 victory over Goshen on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers (10-5, 5-2 Crossroads League) moved into a tie for third place in the league standings, a game out of second.
Sierra Smith and Caylie Teel led Grace’s attack with 16 kills apiece, and Alexa Hill had a double-double of 48 assists and 10 digs.
Grace started the match sharply, scoring the first eight points of the contest. Smith had three kills in that initial surge.
The Maple Leafs (7-11, 0-7 CL) showed life, however, and slowly rallied. Goshen eventually cut Grace’s lead down to one at 20-19, using a 5-0 spurt to force a timeout call from Grace.
In the closing stretch, timely kills from Kari Feddema, Savannah Hart and Marta Bleed gave Grace the cushion it needed in a 25-21 win.
The second set was similar. The Lady Lancers began the game with an 8-3 lead, but Goshen quickly rallied. Goshen tied the score at 15-15, setting up a nervy finish.
The Maple Leafs pulled ahead 24-23 and were serving for the set, but a clutch kill from Hart kept Grace alive. The Lady Lancers survived two more set points, using a kill from Hart and Smith, but Goshen made good on its fourth set point to win 28-26.
Grace’s revenge was swift in the third set. The Lady Lancers pounded Goshen with a 25-12 win, racking up 16 kills on just one error.
The fourth set stayed true to form. Grace built up an early cushion (7-3), but Goshen clawed back (20-18). The Lady Lancers ended the match by winning four of the final six rallies. Tori Bontrager, Feddema and Teel produced kills, and Gina Novotny put the exclamation mark on the match with an ace on the last play.
The Lady Lancers hit the road this weekend, playing at Bethel on Friday and at Indiana Wesleyan on Saturday.
Men’s Tennis
WINONA LAKE – Grace's men's tennis team came up short in its match against Taylor on Wednesday losing 6-3.
Adam Yoder and Conner Bates earned Grace a point in their doubles' match. The duo cruised to a 7-4 victory at No. 3 doubles. The remaining two doubles' matches went to extra sets, but Taylor won both to take an early lead.
Danila Kurkulin outlasted his opponent at No. 1 singles in three sets. He tried to set the tone for the rest of the team by winning 3-6, 6-3, 6-0, but the squad came up short.
Diego Zamora earned a win at No. 3 singles, but Grace would struggle the rest of the day. Uros Pajic took his first set No. 2 singles, but he dropped the last two sets in his match.
The Lancers continue conference play on Saturday when they take on Marian at home. The match starts at 1 p.m.
Women’s Tennis
WINONA LAKE – Grace's women's tennis team dropped its second straight Crossroads League match on Wednesday falling to Taylor 7-2.
The Lady Lancers (6-3, 3-3 Crossroads League) struggled against the visiting Trojans (6-2, 5-2 CL) at the Miller Athletic Complex.
Emily Mast and Carrie Copeland did their job at No.1 doubles winning their match 8-6. Jenna Jackson and Molly Fitzpatrick tried to follow suit, but they lost their hard-fought match 8-6.
Mast continued her hot streak at No. 1 singles winning her match 6-3, 6-2 to remain unbeaten in singles for the year. She was the lone victor in singles' competition for the Lady Lancers.
Grace took three tough losses at No. 2, 3 and 4 singles. Copeland, Jackson and Fitzpatrick took their matches to three sets, but they were unable to come away with a victory against Taylor.
The loss moves the Lady Lancers into sixth place in the Crossroads League. They will take a break from conference play when they travel to Manchester on Thursday. The match takes place at 4 p.m.
