Lancers Soccer Wins NCCAA Regional Championship
November 21, 2021 at 9:24 p.m.
Lancers Soccer Wins NCCAA Regional Championship
By Grace College Sports Information-
The Lancers defeated Roberts Wesleyan 4-1 thanks to three second-half goals, winning the NCCAA Midwest Region championship to grab an automatic bid to the national tournament.
NCCAA Nationals will be held in Kissimmee, Fla., beginning Nov. 29. Grace will be aiming to defend its national crown under head coach Arron Patrick after winning the tournament in 2020.
Ze Maria Goncalves and Martim Cardoso were heavily involved. Goncalves scored twice and added an assist, and Cardoso tallied two goals of his own.
Grace only needed 45 seconds in the match to take its first shot on goal. Cardoso muscled off a defender to clear space, but his low shot was saved.
The Lancers continued to earn chances over the first 10 minutes. Cardoso had a close-range volley in the penalty box that was saved, and Flavio Cruz tried an 18-yard free kick that was also saved.
Not long after, Grace punctured RWC’s net. Cardoso and Tyler Brueckman combined for a quick attack through the middle of the field, and Cardoso placed his 20-yard shot beyond the goalkeeper in the 12th minute.
Grace found the back of the net again 10 minutes later off the foot of Brueckman, but the goal was disallowed due to a prior foul.
Roberts Wesleyan did not take its first shot of the match until the 30th minute as Grace’s possession took over the game.
The Lancers’ chances continued throughout the half. Goncalves had an 18-yard free kick that whisked wide of the net, and Jonny Mora’s hard volley in the box was saved.
Grace went into halftime holding the 1-0 lead. The Lancers outshot RWC 6-1 in the half. Five of Grace’s shots were on goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Grace threatened again. Connor Pugh tried a lofted shot that was cleared off the goal line.
Goncalves and Frederik Christmann also tried shots soon afterward that were denied. Despite Grace’s multitude of chances, the door was still open for the RedHawks.
Roberts Wesleyan made Grace pay by scoring the equalizer with 32 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Lancers refused to be rattled and systematically built a patient attack in response. Before long, Grace had put the match entirely out of reach.
Cardoso nearly had Grace on top 10 minutes later, but his sliding effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Grace’s pressure eventually resulted in the go-ahead goal. Goncalves intercepted a pass outside the penalty box. After sensing an opportunity, he curled a long shot that beat the goalkeeper and snuck under the crossbar in the 71st minute.
Ten minutes later, Grace had scored two more goals. In the 81st minute, TJ White freed up Christmann for a long run on the right side of the field. Christmann’s cross connected with Goncalves, who headed his effort cleanly into the net.
The play was replicated a minute later. Christmann and Goncalves combined for the build-up, and the cross was finished off by Cardoso in the box for the final 4-1 scoreline.
Grace finished the game with a 19-8 advantage in shot attempts; 10 of those tries were on target for Grace. The Lancers also had the only four corner kicks during the outing.
Christmann finished with two assists, and Matteo Conci had four saves in goal.
Lancers hold on for road win at MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Frankie Davidson’s 31-point performance lifted Grace’s men’s basketball team to victory in the Crossroads League opener.
The Lancers improved to 8-0 after Saturday’s 83-80 win at Mt. Vernon Nazarene.
Grace led by as many as 18 points, but the young Lancers had to make plays late to hold off a feisty Cougar comeback.
The Lancers’ offense was thoroughly efficient in Saturday’s win. Grace shot 51 percent from the floor, 48 percent on 3-pointers and 79 percent on free throws. Grace also outrebounded MVNU by five.
The first half remained closely contested for 16 minutes. But Grace ended the half on a flurry, setting the Lancers up for a comfortable halftime lead.
Grace held a small lead for much of the opening half. But the margin was just one at 31-30 with 4:10 to go in the half.
A triple from Jake Wadding followed by a layup from Brett Sickafoose started Grace’s momentum, and the Lancers ended the half on a commanding 12-0 run.
Davidson and Sickafoose were responsible for all the points during Grace’s run as each player buried a pair of 3-pointers. Sickafoose's last trey beat the buzzer from a few feet beyond the 3-point line.
Grace went into halftime with a 49-34 lead. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor, and Grace hit 7 of 14 from deep. The Lancers also had 11 assists and four turnovers in the opening half.
Davidson led all players with 16 points at the intermission, and Wadding scored 15.
Grace scored the first three points of the second half, opening up the largest lead of the game of 18 points at 52-34 with 19:26 remaining.
MVNU countered with seven unanswered points to slice into Grace’s cushion.
Midway into the second half, Grace still owned a double-digit cushion at 68-58, but the Cougars had another run planned.
MVNU scored 11 of the next 12 points to tie the game at 69-69 with 6:52 on the clock.
Grace responded calmly and refused to allow the Cougars to taste the lead. Elijah Malone sank a timely 3-pointer on the next possession, and Grace scored on the next three possessions to regain an eight-point edge.
But the Cougars kept pressure on Grace. The Lancers went scoreless for over three minutes, and the Cougars quickly pulled within striking distance.
MVNU hit several free throws in the final minutes, eventually tying the score 78-78 with 1:00 on the clock.
After a timeout, Davidson was fouled and hit both free throws to give Grace the lead.
The Lancers’ defense took care of the rest. Grace blocked the next shot by MVNU and stole the ball on the following play, allowing Grace to ice the game at the free throw line.
Davidson racked up 31 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, and Wadding tallied 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Malone finished with 16 points and seven boards, and Sickafoose scored 15 points off the bench after drilling 3 of 6 from downtown.
Brycen Graber handed out seven assists, and Ian Scott grabbed five rebounds with two points.
The Lancers are home on Tuesday for a doubleheader against St. Francis. The women will square off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m. The Cougars are currently the No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA.
Grace falls in first conference clash
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace College’s women’s basketball team fell to Mt. Vernon Nazarene 87-58 on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s contest marked the first of four straight against Crossroads League opponents. The next game is at home on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against No. 10 Marian.
The Lady Lancers (5-2, 0-1 CL) started the game with intensity and pushed the tempo against the No. 23-ranked Cougars. Karlee Feldman scored the first six points as Grace built a 6-0 lead.
MVNU (6-2, 1-0 CL) answered the Grace run with a 12-2 run of their own to quickly take the lead back.
A three-point shot from Maddie Ryman vaulted the Lady Lancers back in front, but the Cougars used another run to take a 20-14 lead into the second quarter.
Woeful shooting undid Grace’s intentions in the second quarter, flipping momentum entirely to the Cougars in the game.
MVNU started the second frame with a 17-0 run. Five minutes elapsed in the quarter before Grace scored its first point.
The Lady Lancers made just one of their 17 shots during the quarter (5.9 percent), including 0 for 8 on 3-pointers. As a result, Grace trailed 43-20 at halftime.
The Lady Lancers were outscored 23-6 in the second quarter. For the half, Grace shot 20 percent in the first half and was outrebounded 28-21.
Ryman and Peyton Murphy helped Grace eat into the deficit, scoring the first seven points of the second half.
Following baskets by Feldman and Kiersten Poor, the Lady Lancers had nearly cut the lead in half midway through the third quarter.
MVNU responded to Grace's comeback by hitting its next six attempts from the field to end the quarter with a 66-44 lead.
The Cougars’ third-quarter run seemed to halt any chance that Grace had of mounting a comeback as they held on to win 87-58.
“We took one on the chin today. The second quarter put us in a big hole. Against a quality team like MVNU, it’s hard to recover from that,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “We have a long season ahead, and we have a lot of basketball ahead of us. It’s all about getting better and refocusing on Monday.”
For the game, Grace shot 31 percent from the field, 17 percent from the perimeter and 70 percent from the charity stripe.
Feldman double-doubled again with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Ryman also had 15 points.
Poor added 12 points, and Kenzie McMahon was a force in the paint with 11 boards.
The Lancers defeated Roberts Wesleyan 4-1 thanks to three second-half goals, winning the NCCAA Midwest Region championship to grab an automatic bid to the national tournament.
NCCAA Nationals will be held in Kissimmee, Fla., beginning Nov. 29. Grace will be aiming to defend its national crown under head coach Arron Patrick after winning the tournament in 2020.
Ze Maria Goncalves and Martim Cardoso were heavily involved. Goncalves scored twice and added an assist, and Cardoso tallied two goals of his own.
Grace only needed 45 seconds in the match to take its first shot on goal. Cardoso muscled off a defender to clear space, but his low shot was saved.
The Lancers continued to earn chances over the first 10 minutes. Cardoso had a close-range volley in the penalty box that was saved, and Flavio Cruz tried an 18-yard free kick that was also saved.
Not long after, Grace punctured RWC’s net. Cardoso and Tyler Brueckman combined for a quick attack through the middle of the field, and Cardoso placed his 20-yard shot beyond the goalkeeper in the 12th minute.
Grace found the back of the net again 10 minutes later off the foot of Brueckman, but the goal was disallowed due to a prior foul.
Roberts Wesleyan did not take its first shot of the match until the 30th minute as Grace’s possession took over the game.
The Lancers’ chances continued throughout the half. Goncalves had an 18-yard free kick that whisked wide of the net, and Jonny Mora’s hard volley in the box was saved.
Grace went into halftime holding the 1-0 lead. The Lancers outshot RWC 6-1 in the half. Five of Grace’s shots were on goal.
Two minutes into the second half, Grace threatened again. Connor Pugh tried a lofted shot that was cleared off the goal line.
Goncalves and Frederik Christmann also tried shots soon afterward that were denied. Despite Grace’s multitude of chances, the door was still open for the RedHawks.
Roberts Wesleyan made Grace pay by scoring the equalizer with 32 minutes remaining in regulation.
The Lancers refused to be rattled and systematically built a patient attack in response. Before long, Grace had put the match entirely out of reach.
Cardoso nearly had Grace on top 10 minutes later, but his sliding effort was blocked by the goalkeeper.
Grace’s pressure eventually resulted in the go-ahead goal. Goncalves intercepted a pass outside the penalty box. After sensing an opportunity, he curled a long shot that beat the goalkeeper and snuck under the crossbar in the 71st minute.
Ten minutes later, Grace had scored two more goals. In the 81st minute, TJ White freed up Christmann for a long run on the right side of the field. Christmann’s cross connected with Goncalves, who headed his effort cleanly into the net.
The play was replicated a minute later. Christmann and Goncalves combined for the build-up, and the cross was finished off by Cardoso in the box for the final 4-1 scoreline.
Grace finished the game with a 19-8 advantage in shot attempts; 10 of those tries were on target for Grace. The Lancers also had the only four corner kicks during the outing.
Christmann finished with two assists, and Matteo Conci had four saves in goal.
Lancers hold on for road win at MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Frankie Davidson’s 31-point performance lifted Grace’s men’s basketball team to victory in the Crossroads League opener.
The Lancers improved to 8-0 after Saturday’s 83-80 win at Mt. Vernon Nazarene.
Grace led by as many as 18 points, but the young Lancers had to make plays late to hold off a feisty Cougar comeback.
The Lancers’ offense was thoroughly efficient in Saturday’s win. Grace shot 51 percent from the floor, 48 percent on 3-pointers and 79 percent on free throws. Grace also outrebounded MVNU by five.
The first half remained closely contested for 16 minutes. But Grace ended the half on a flurry, setting the Lancers up for a comfortable halftime lead.
Grace held a small lead for much of the opening half. But the margin was just one at 31-30 with 4:10 to go in the half.
A triple from Jake Wadding followed by a layup from Brett Sickafoose started Grace’s momentum, and the Lancers ended the half on a commanding 12-0 run.
Davidson and Sickafoose were responsible for all the points during Grace’s run as each player buried a pair of 3-pointers. Sickafoose's last trey beat the buzzer from a few feet beyond the 3-point line.
Grace went into halftime with a 49-34 lead. Both teams shot over 50 percent from the floor, and Grace hit 7 of 14 from deep. The Lancers also had 11 assists and four turnovers in the opening half.
Davidson led all players with 16 points at the intermission, and Wadding scored 15.
Grace scored the first three points of the second half, opening up the largest lead of the game of 18 points at 52-34 with 19:26 remaining.
MVNU countered with seven unanswered points to slice into Grace’s cushion.
Midway into the second half, Grace still owned a double-digit cushion at 68-58, but the Cougars had another run planned.
MVNU scored 11 of the next 12 points to tie the game at 69-69 with 6:52 on the clock.
Grace responded calmly and refused to allow the Cougars to taste the lead. Elijah Malone sank a timely 3-pointer on the next possession, and Grace scored on the next three possessions to regain an eight-point edge.
But the Cougars kept pressure on Grace. The Lancers went scoreless for over three minutes, and the Cougars quickly pulled within striking distance.
MVNU hit several free throws in the final minutes, eventually tying the score 78-78 with 1:00 on the clock.
After a timeout, Davidson was fouled and hit both free throws to give Grace the lead.
The Lancers’ defense took care of the rest. Grace blocked the next shot by MVNU and stole the ball on the following play, allowing Grace to ice the game at the free throw line.
Davidson racked up 31 points, 4 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, and Wadding tallied 19 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists.
Malone finished with 16 points and seven boards, and Sickafoose scored 15 points off the bench after drilling 3 of 6 from downtown.
Brycen Graber handed out seven assists, and Ian Scott grabbed five rebounds with two points.
The Lancers are home on Tuesday for a doubleheader against St. Francis. The women will square off at 6 p.m. with the men to follow at 8 p.m. The Cougars are currently the No. 1-ranked team in the NAIA.
Grace falls in first conference clash
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Grace College’s women’s basketball team fell to Mt. Vernon Nazarene 87-58 on Saturday afternoon.
Saturday’s contest marked the first of four straight against Crossroads League opponents. The next game is at home on Tuesday at 6 p.m. against No. 10 Marian.
The Lady Lancers (5-2, 0-1 CL) started the game with intensity and pushed the tempo against the No. 23-ranked Cougars. Karlee Feldman scored the first six points as Grace built a 6-0 lead.
MVNU (6-2, 1-0 CL) answered the Grace run with a 12-2 run of their own to quickly take the lead back.
A three-point shot from Maddie Ryman vaulted the Lady Lancers back in front, but the Cougars used another run to take a 20-14 lead into the second quarter.
Woeful shooting undid Grace’s intentions in the second quarter, flipping momentum entirely to the Cougars in the game.
MVNU started the second frame with a 17-0 run. Five minutes elapsed in the quarter before Grace scored its first point.
The Lady Lancers made just one of their 17 shots during the quarter (5.9 percent), including 0 for 8 on 3-pointers. As a result, Grace trailed 43-20 at halftime.
The Lady Lancers were outscored 23-6 in the second quarter. For the half, Grace shot 20 percent in the first half and was outrebounded 28-21.
Ryman and Peyton Murphy helped Grace eat into the deficit, scoring the first seven points of the second half.
Following baskets by Feldman and Kiersten Poor, the Lady Lancers had nearly cut the lead in half midway through the third quarter.
MVNU responded to Grace's comeback by hitting its next six attempts from the field to end the quarter with a 66-44 lead.
The Cougars’ third-quarter run seemed to halt any chance that Grace had of mounting a comeback as they held on to win 87-58.
“We took one on the chin today. The second quarter put us in a big hole. Against a quality team like MVNU, it’s hard to recover from that,” said Grace head coach Dan Davis. “We have a long season ahead, and we have a lot of basketball ahead of us. It’s all about getting better and refocusing on Monday.”
For the game, Grace shot 31 percent from the field, 17 percent from the perimeter and 70 percent from the charity stripe.
Feldman double-doubled again with 15 points and 10 rebounds, and Ryman also had 15 points.
Poor added 12 points, and Kenzie McMahon was a force in the paint with 11 boards.
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