Grace’s Unbeaten Streak Reaches Nine With Win Over Marian
September 25, 2022 at 9:11 p.m.
Grace’s Unbeaten Streak Reaches Nine With Win Over Marian
By Josh Neuhart-
Blake Burns struck twice for the eighth ranked Lancers (6-0-3, 1-0-0 Crossroads League) propelling them to their first Crossroads League win of the season.
Three-time NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Matteo Conci picked up his fifth clean sheet of the season in the win.
From the opening kickoff, Grace looked poised to avoid an emotional letdown after recently earning a top 10 ranking in the NAIA.
The Lancers controlled the ball for almost the entirety of the first ten minutes of action, which culminated in a pair of chances from Felipe Gruber.
Marian (3-5-1, 0-1-0 CL) tried to counter Grace’s high powered attack with a defensive style of soccer that limited the offensive opportunities the Knights could generate.
Martim Sequeira nearly broke the deadlock with a shot from in close that squeaked through the goalkeeper's legs but was stopped just short of the goal line.
The Lancers' aggressive attack saw them awarded a pair of free-kicks from just outside the box near the middle part of the first half. Marian was able to ward off both chances as the game continued to remain even.
Grace’s goal would come with just 2:43 left in the period and was a showcase tactical ball movement as Grace surged into the lead.
Sequeira played a ball into the box to Daniel Santos Rosa who immediately lofted a pass on to Burns that he buried for his first of the contest.
The final 2:43 would pass without incident as Grace carried a 1-0 lead into the break
The Lancers out shot the Knights 8-0 in the first half and held a 4-1 corner advantage.
It would be just 10 minutes into the second when Grace doubled their lead.
Flavio Cruz sent a long pass down the field to Burns. Burns settled the ball to his feet just long enough to put a curling shot on goal that beat the keeper to push Grace ahead 2-0.
After the second goal, the Lancers did not take their foot off the pedal as they continued to push for their third goal .
On their next offensive possession, Sequeira just missed netting his second bicycle goal in as many games as he rang his acrobatic kick off the post.
Sequeira again was involved in the offensive attack as he crossed a ball to Santos Rosa whose shot drifted high off the net.
Conci's only save of the game came near the middle of the second half, as he used a full extension save to preserve his clean sheet performance.
Grace continued to control the pace of play as the Lancers held on for the convincing 2-0 victory.
Conci made one save in the victory and Sequeira led all players with four shots. For the game, the Lancers out shot the Knights 15-3.
Grace’s next match will take place in Fort Wayne, as the Lancers take on St. Francis (7-2-1, 0-1-0 CL) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Lancers beat HU for league tourney title
WINONA LAKE - The perfect season for Grace’s men’s tennis team continued on Saturday.
The Lancers blanked Huntington 4-0 in the championship match of the 2022 Crossroads League Tournament. Grace (13-0) remains undefeated on the season after Saturday’s win at the Don Cramer Tennis Courts.
Grace claimed its first conference tournament crown in program history, making good on the program’s fifth appearance in the tournament championship match.
As a result, the Lancers will earn the automatic bid to the 2023 NAIA National Championships in May in Mobile, Ala. It marks the third time that Grace has earned a berth as a team to NAIA Nationals (1988, 2021).
The doubles’ point came down to a narrow margin. The Foresters won at No. 1 doubles, but Ramiro Candia and Nicolas Doria coasted 6-0 at No. 3.
The point was decided at No. 2 doubles with Javier Gallego and Pablo Gregori winning 6-4 to give the Lancers an early boost. It would not be the final time that Gallego converted a key point.
Doria continued his impressive day with another rout at No. 6 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3. Gregori also won a spirited match at No. 4 singles by the scoreline of 6-1, 6-3, putting Grace one point from the title.
Gallego delivered the winning moment at No. 2 singles. After beating his opponent (6-3, 6-3), the Lancers spilled onto Gallego’s court, starting a series of championship celebrations between the team.
Next week, Grace will send its squad to the ITA Regional Tournament, beginning Wednesday in Marion.
Grace tops SAU on the road
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Grace’s volleyball team picked up a key road win against a Crossroads League foe on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers used balanced offensive production to beat Spring Arbor 3-0.
All three sets were not decided until the end; Grace showed resolve to win all three hard-fought sets.
The Cougars (10-8, 1-6 CL) started the match well, pulling out to a quick 7-3 lead in the first set.
Grace kept the score close and used four straight points to surge ahead 22-20. But the Cougars responded with four points of their own, serving for the set with a 24-22 lead.
But the Lady Lancers (7-11, 2-5 CL) staved off two set points, using kills from Cassadi Colbert and Sahara Bee to fight back. Grace used that momentum to claim the opening set in extra points, 28-26; Livia Tate earned the final kill after a free ball.
Grace scored the first two points of the second set. The Lady Lancers kept a small but steady lead, holding on late for a four-point win.
The third set saw the score get tied 10 times, particularly in the early stages. A pair of kills from Jadyn Ross midway into the set sparked Grace into the lead at 18-14.
The Cougars tried to rally in the final moments with three straight points, but a final kill from Ross lifted Grace to a 25-21 win to secure the sweep.
Colbert led all players with 12 kills on a .222 percentage, and Bee also hit double digits with 10 kills, 5 digs and 2 block assists.
Ross finished with nine kills, Katie Swanson had 4 kills, 1 solo block and 3 block assists, and Alisha Leffring tallied five kills.
Grace’s defense was boosted by 13 digs from Riley Owens, 11 digs from Grace Erwin and 10 digs from McKenzie Stakely. Owens also handed out 32 assists as the setter.
The Lady Lancers are on the road for a trio of matches next week, including Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday, Huntington on Friday and Goshen on Saturday.
Blake Burns struck twice for the eighth ranked Lancers (6-0-3, 1-0-0 Crossroads League) propelling them to their first Crossroads League win of the season.
Three-time NAIA Defensive Player of the Week Matteo Conci picked up his fifth clean sheet of the season in the win.
From the opening kickoff, Grace looked poised to avoid an emotional letdown after recently earning a top 10 ranking in the NAIA.
The Lancers controlled the ball for almost the entirety of the first ten minutes of action, which culminated in a pair of chances from Felipe Gruber.
Marian (3-5-1, 0-1-0 CL) tried to counter Grace’s high powered attack with a defensive style of soccer that limited the offensive opportunities the Knights could generate.
Martim Sequeira nearly broke the deadlock with a shot from in close that squeaked through the goalkeeper's legs but was stopped just short of the goal line.
The Lancers' aggressive attack saw them awarded a pair of free-kicks from just outside the box near the middle part of the first half. Marian was able to ward off both chances as the game continued to remain even.
Grace’s goal would come with just 2:43 left in the period and was a showcase tactical ball movement as Grace surged into the lead.
Sequeira played a ball into the box to Daniel Santos Rosa who immediately lofted a pass on to Burns that he buried for his first of the contest.
The final 2:43 would pass without incident as Grace carried a 1-0 lead into the break
The Lancers out shot the Knights 8-0 in the first half and held a 4-1 corner advantage.
It would be just 10 minutes into the second when Grace doubled their lead.
Flavio Cruz sent a long pass down the field to Burns. Burns settled the ball to his feet just long enough to put a curling shot on goal that beat the keeper to push Grace ahead 2-0.
After the second goal, the Lancers did not take their foot off the pedal as they continued to push for their third goal .
On their next offensive possession, Sequeira just missed netting his second bicycle goal in as many games as he rang his acrobatic kick off the post.
Sequeira again was involved in the offensive attack as he crossed a ball to Santos Rosa whose shot drifted high off the net.
Conci's only save of the game came near the middle of the second half, as he used a full extension save to preserve his clean sheet performance.
Grace continued to control the pace of play as the Lancers held on for the convincing 2-0 victory.
Conci made one save in the victory and Sequeira led all players with four shots. For the game, the Lancers out shot the Knights 15-3.
Grace’s next match will take place in Fort Wayne, as the Lancers take on St. Francis (7-2-1, 0-1-0 CL) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday.
Lancers beat HU for league tourney title
WINONA LAKE - The perfect season for Grace’s men’s tennis team continued on Saturday.
The Lancers blanked Huntington 4-0 in the championship match of the 2022 Crossroads League Tournament. Grace (13-0) remains undefeated on the season after Saturday’s win at the Don Cramer Tennis Courts.
Grace claimed its first conference tournament crown in program history, making good on the program’s fifth appearance in the tournament championship match.
As a result, the Lancers will earn the automatic bid to the 2023 NAIA National Championships in May in Mobile, Ala. It marks the third time that Grace has earned a berth as a team to NAIA Nationals (1988, 2021).
The doubles’ point came down to a narrow margin. The Foresters won at No. 1 doubles, but Ramiro Candia and Nicolas Doria coasted 6-0 at No. 3.
The point was decided at No. 2 doubles with Javier Gallego and Pablo Gregori winning 6-4 to give the Lancers an early boost. It would not be the final time that Gallego converted a key point.
Doria continued his impressive day with another rout at No. 6 singles, winning 6-0, 6-3. Gregori also won a spirited match at No. 4 singles by the scoreline of 6-1, 6-3, putting Grace one point from the title.
Gallego delivered the winning moment at No. 2 singles. After beating his opponent (6-3, 6-3), the Lancers spilled onto Gallego’s court, starting a series of championship celebrations between the team.
Next week, Grace will send its squad to the ITA Regional Tournament, beginning Wednesday in Marion.
Grace tops SAU on the road
SPRING ARBOR, Mich. - Grace’s volleyball team picked up a key road win against a Crossroads League foe on Saturday.
The Lady Lancers used balanced offensive production to beat Spring Arbor 3-0.
All three sets were not decided until the end; Grace showed resolve to win all three hard-fought sets.
The Cougars (10-8, 1-6 CL) started the match well, pulling out to a quick 7-3 lead in the first set.
Grace kept the score close and used four straight points to surge ahead 22-20. But the Cougars responded with four points of their own, serving for the set with a 24-22 lead.
But the Lady Lancers (7-11, 2-5 CL) staved off two set points, using kills from Cassadi Colbert and Sahara Bee to fight back. Grace used that momentum to claim the opening set in extra points, 28-26; Livia Tate earned the final kill after a free ball.
Grace scored the first two points of the second set. The Lady Lancers kept a small but steady lead, holding on late for a four-point win.
The third set saw the score get tied 10 times, particularly in the early stages. A pair of kills from Jadyn Ross midway into the set sparked Grace into the lead at 18-14.
The Cougars tried to rally in the final moments with three straight points, but a final kill from Ross lifted Grace to a 25-21 win to secure the sweep.
Colbert led all players with 12 kills on a .222 percentage, and Bee also hit double digits with 10 kills, 5 digs and 2 block assists.
Ross finished with nine kills, Katie Swanson had 4 kills, 1 solo block and 3 block assists, and Alisha Leffring tallied five kills.
Grace’s defense was boosted by 13 digs from Riley Owens, 11 digs from Grace Erwin and 10 digs from McKenzie Stakely. Owens also handed out 32 assists as the setter.
The Lady Lancers are on the road for a trio of matches next week, including Mt. Vernon Nazarene on Wednesday, Huntington on Friday and Goshen on Saturday.
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