Grace Roundup: Lady Lancers' Upset Bid Spoiled In OT
Posted
Josh Neuhart-
PRESCOTT, Ariz. – Grace College’s women’s soccer team nearly pulled off an NAIA Top 25 upset on Saturday at No. 19 Embry-Riddle (Ariz.).
The Eagles (4-1) scored in overtime to win 1-0 and hand Grace its first loss of the season. Saturday’s match, played in Arizona, started at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
The Lady Lancers (4-1) had several goal-scoring opportunities early in the match, putting the Eagles back on their heels. Within five minutes of play, Shelby Fort and Anna Kuhl both had shots at ERAU’s goal to threaten the hosts.
The teams were unable to find a scoring connection in the first half despite a combined 14 shots.
Both sides increased their attack after halftime in pursuit of a game winner. Grace took eight shots in the final 45 minutes but could not find the back of the net.
Joana Schimmel had a pair of shots saved in the last five minutes, and Kuhl and Jenni Phillips also had shots saved in the second half.
Bethany Blackwood was strong in goal for Grace to keep ERAU off the scoresheet in regulation, sending the game to overtime.
The match ended just minutes into the overtime session. The Eagles scored off a rebound in the penalty box for the golden goal winner.
Blackwood was credited with 16 saves in a sharp performance. Schimmel tallied three shots, all on goal, and Phillips, Kuhl and Kristen Bellinger each tried two shots.
The Lady Lancers will end their Arizona trip on Monday with a match at Arizona Christian.
Volleyball
FORT WAYNE – Grace’s volleyball team was unable to hand No. 19 St. Francis an upset on Saturday in a 3-1 defeat.
The Cougars (14-2, 4-0 Crossroads League) are one of the hottest teams in the NAIA right now with 11 straight victories. Grace was competitive in every set and actually had more kills than USF.
The Lady Lancers (8-4, 2-2 CL) recorded 57 kills at a .235 percentage, but Grace was unable to slow down USF’s attack for the upset.
The Cougars jumped ahead of Grace early in the first set and held on for a five-point win.
The score was nearly inseparable in the second set, but USF escaped with a 25-23 victory.
Grace won the third set 25-17, the largest margin of the entire match. The Lady Lancers ended the set on a 10-2 run to win the third game.
The match was clinched by USF in the fourth set. The score was knotted late at 19-19, but the Cougars won six of the next eight points to end the match.
Grace’s dynamic offense was spearheaded by Alexa Hill, who amassed 55 assists in just four sets to go along with eight digs.
Caylie Teel picked up a double-double with 18 kills and 14 digs, and Kelsee Zuidema tallied 17 kills on a .325 percentage while adding seven digs and two aces.
Marta Bleed added 12 kills on a .417 percentage, Makaela Lochmueller had six kills, 1 solo block and two block assists, and Gina Novotny led all players with 27 digs.
The Lady Lancers play twice this week – at Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Tuesday and home against Huntington on Friday.
Women’s Tennis
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s women’s tennis team recorded its second shutout of the season with a 9-0 win over Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers (5-1, 4-1 Crossroads League) are currently in second place in the league standings under head coach Marcus Moore.
Morgan Mast and Jenna Jackson blanked their opponents at No. 1 doubles, and Carrie Copeland and Shelby Bankson also won 8-0 at No. 2 doubles.
The Lady Lancers won easily at every singles’ position. Copeland won 6-0, 6-2 at No. 2 singles, and Jackson won by the same score at No. 3.
Morgan Mast was almost perfect (6-0, 6-1) at No. 5 singles, Emily Mast finished 6-1, 6-2 at No. 1 singles, and Jayna Armstrong won 6-2, 6-2 at No. 4 singles.
Grace won by default at both No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.
The Lady Lancers will host St. Francis on Tuesday at Miller Athletic Complex.
Men’s Tennis
WINONA LAKE – Grace’s men’s tennis team made short work of Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Saturday, winning 8-1 at Miller Athletic Complex.
The Lancers (2-3, 2-2 Crossroads League) claimed all three doubles’ courts to ease away for the victory.
At No. 1 doubles, Pavle Popovic and Diego Zamora battled to a hard-fought 8-5 win. Caleb Yoder and Jacob Gray coasted to an 8-2 win at No. 2 doubles.
The Cougars had to default at No. 3 doubles and No. 6 singles.
Popovic at No. 1 singles, Gray at No. 3, Yoder at No. 4 and Bates at No. 5 all had little trouble with their opponents in singles’ play.
The Lancers play at home again on Tuesday, hosting St. Francis at 2 p.m.
