Late PK Eliminates Lady Lancers From NCCAA Nationals
December 1, 2016 at 5:21 p.m.
Late PK Eliminates Lady Lancers From NCCAA Nationals
By Josh Neuhart-
CCU won Pool A as a result, ending Grace’s season. The loss concludes the sterling careers of Grace’s senior class which was responsible for 53 victories and four straight national tournaments.
After a fairly even contest, the Lady Lancers (8-8-5) were undone in the 83rd minute. The referee awarded the Cougars (11-8-3) a penalty kick after spotting some contact in the box, and CCU took advantage by firing the winning strike from Mariah Fredericks.
For the game, Grace was outshot 13-9. The Lady Lancers did own a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Abby Schue was tremendous in goal for Grace, making eight saves in 90 minutes which included several key stops.
In the first 10 minutes of action, the Lady Lancers earned several corner kicks to no avail.
Grace’s best chance came 17 minutes into the contest when Meredith Hollar nearly dribbled free on a breakaway, but her shot was blocked at the last instant.
The Cougars responded by moving the ball into Grace’s penalty box, but Schue came up with two big saves just minutes apart to keep the match scoreless.
The first half ended 0-0 on the scoreboard, although Colorado Christian had a 7-3 advantage in shots.
Grace’s possession struggled to take over in the second half; the Lady Lancers did not manage a shot attempt until nearly 20 minutes after halftime when Hollar’s long blast sailed over the crossbar.
The Lady Lancers slowly began to control the pace of the game as the second half went on, but the Cougars nearly scored off a counter. Schue made a slick diving save on a low shot in the 72nd minute.
The match seemed destined to head into overtime as neither team was able to provide a winning moment. But a loose ball near the top of the box resulted in the fateful PK whistle from the official, allowing CCU to land a spot in the national semifinals.
Grace had one last legitimate attempt at goal in the final frantic minutes. Hollar charged hard on an attack along the right side of the field and tried a hard, low shot that was saved.
The Lady Lancers played a few more balls into the penalty box before the time ran out, but Grace was unable to turn those into goal-scoring opportunities.
Hollar led Grace with three shots and two on goal, and Kristen Bellinger shot twice. Maile Grout, Cruz, Joana Schimmel and Kristelle Jadoo also tried a shot for Grace.
Lancers’ Soccer Season Ends
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A 3-0 defeat on Wednesday against No. 1 Campbellsville officially wrapped up the 2016 season for Grace's men's soccer team.
The Lancers (10-9-3) were eliminated in pool play at the NCCAA National Championships against the high-powered Tigers (16-2-3).
Campbellsville, who was ranked in the NAIA all year and reached the NAIA Opening Round a few weeks ago, outshot Grace 23-11 and had a 5-1 lead in corner kicks as well.
Both teams had chances in the early stages. The Tigers had a high header that Robbie Barnhill saved, and Damon Binkley had a try at goal for Grace.
In the 13th minute, Grace had another chance from a set piece when Breno Oliveira's shot forced a strong save by the Tigers' goalkeeper.
Not long after, Jon Sands and Josiah Osborn made back-to-back saves off the goal line to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Campbellsville did strike first in the 30th minute when a long pass down the middle beat Grace's backline.
Minutes before halftime the Tigers doubled their lead, finishing off a cross inside the box.
The win was essentially secured for Campbellsville in the 58th minute when another long pass beat Grace, resulting in the game's third goal.
The Lancers produced six shots after halftime but only two on goal.
Barnhill came up with 10 saves during his final collegiate match as Grace's goalkeeper.
Oliveira had two shots on goal, and Colin Cape, Daniel Smith, Binkley and Mitchell Zeilenga also shot twice.
The loss ends the careers of Grace's senior class, which had 3 winning seasons, 40 victories overall and 2 straight trips to NCCAA Nationals.
Hollar Named NCCAA’s Game Plan 4 Life Winner
WINONA LAKE – Meredith Hollar was named the prestigious NCCAA Game Plan 4 Life honoree to cap off her senior campaign.
The GP4L award seeks to recognize one student-athlete who best represents the core values of the NCCAA, embodied in the realms of athletics, academics, spiritual leadership and community service.
Hollar will graduate from Grace as one of the most prolific offensive talents in program history. The senior forward from Warsaw, Ind., led the Lady Lancers this year with 10 goals, including five game winners. She finished fifth in team history for career goals and sixth in career points.
Hollar has earned NAIA and NCCAA All-American accolades throughout her career and was the Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. She is a standout student, boasting a 3.99 GPA as an elementary education major. She is a member of Alpha Chi and will repeat as an NCCAA/NAIA Scholar-Athlete this year.
Hollar posted eight goals and five assists as a sophomore, including a goal in the NCCAA championship game against Lee. In her junior season, she helped lead Grace to the program’s first trip to the NAIA National Championships.
She has demonstrated admirable resolve to overcome an injury-filled career. She has posted her impressive statistics despite undergoing three knee surgeries in her four years. Before her senior season, she had another orthopedic knee surgery but recovered in time to lead the Lady Lancers’ attack in 2016.
In the community, Hollar serves at her local church and with the Council for Exceptional Children. She was a student worker at the Center for Lakes and Streams and currently is a substitute teacher in the Warsaw school system.
Head coach Michael Voss commented that Hollar is a true leader by example both on and off the pitch. “Meredith leads by example through her work ethic, spiritual discernment and love for her teammates. She has unquestionably high character and faith in Christ,” Voss said. “She is quality in competition and in her love for Jesus, and she spurs others on to do the same.”
CCU won Pool A as a result, ending Grace’s season. The loss concludes the sterling careers of Grace’s senior class which was responsible for 53 victories and four straight national tournaments.
After a fairly even contest, the Lady Lancers (8-8-5) were undone in the 83rd minute. The referee awarded the Cougars (11-8-3) a penalty kick after spotting some contact in the box, and CCU took advantage by firing the winning strike from Mariah Fredericks.
For the game, Grace was outshot 13-9. The Lady Lancers did own a 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.
Abby Schue was tremendous in goal for Grace, making eight saves in 90 minutes which included several key stops.
In the first 10 minutes of action, the Lady Lancers earned several corner kicks to no avail.
Grace’s best chance came 17 minutes into the contest when Meredith Hollar nearly dribbled free on a breakaway, but her shot was blocked at the last instant.
The Cougars responded by moving the ball into Grace’s penalty box, but Schue came up with two big saves just minutes apart to keep the match scoreless.
The first half ended 0-0 on the scoreboard, although Colorado Christian had a 7-3 advantage in shots.
Grace’s possession struggled to take over in the second half; the Lady Lancers did not manage a shot attempt until nearly 20 minutes after halftime when Hollar’s long blast sailed over the crossbar.
The Lady Lancers slowly began to control the pace of the game as the second half went on, but the Cougars nearly scored off a counter. Schue made a slick diving save on a low shot in the 72nd minute.
The match seemed destined to head into overtime as neither team was able to provide a winning moment. But a loose ball near the top of the box resulted in the fateful PK whistle from the official, allowing CCU to land a spot in the national semifinals.
Grace had one last legitimate attempt at goal in the final frantic minutes. Hollar charged hard on an attack along the right side of the field and tried a hard, low shot that was saved.
The Lady Lancers played a few more balls into the penalty box before the time ran out, but Grace was unable to turn those into goal-scoring opportunities.
Hollar led Grace with three shots and two on goal, and Kristen Bellinger shot twice. Maile Grout, Cruz, Joana Schimmel and Kristelle Jadoo also tried a shot for Grace.
Lancers’ Soccer Season Ends
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - A 3-0 defeat on Wednesday against No. 1 Campbellsville officially wrapped up the 2016 season for Grace's men's soccer team.
The Lancers (10-9-3) were eliminated in pool play at the NCCAA National Championships against the high-powered Tigers (16-2-3).
Campbellsville, who was ranked in the NAIA all year and reached the NAIA Opening Round a few weeks ago, outshot Grace 23-11 and had a 5-1 lead in corner kicks as well.
Both teams had chances in the early stages. The Tigers had a high header that Robbie Barnhill saved, and Damon Binkley had a try at goal for Grace.
In the 13th minute, Grace had another chance from a set piece when Breno Oliveira's shot forced a strong save by the Tigers' goalkeeper.
Not long after, Jon Sands and Josiah Osborn made back-to-back saves off the goal line to keep the Tigers off the scoreboard.
Campbellsville did strike first in the 30th minute when a long pass down the middle beat Grace's backline.
Minutes before halftime the Tigers doubled their lead, finishing off a cross inside the box.
The win was essentially secured for Campbellsville in the 58th minute when another long pass beat Grace, resulting in the game's third goal.
The Lancers produced six shots after halftime but only two on goal.
Barnhill came up with 10 saves during his final collegiate match as Grace's goalkeeper.
Oliveira had two shots on goal, and Colin Cape, Daniel Smith, Binkley and Mitchell Zeilenga also shot twice.
The loss ends the careers of Grace's senior class, which had 3 winning seasons, 40 victories overall and 2 straight trips to NCCAA Nationals.
Hollar Named NCCAA’s Game Plan 4 Life Winner
WINONA LAKE – Meredith Hollar was named the prestigious NCCAA Game Plan 4 Life honoree to cap off her senior campaign.
The GP4L award seeks to recognize one student-athlete who best represents the core values of the NCCAA, embodied in the realms of athletics, academics, spiritual leadership and community service.
Hollar will graduate from Grace as one of the most prolific offensive talents in program history. The senior forward from Warsaw, Ind., led the Lady Lancers this year with 10 goals, including five game winners. She finished fifth in team history for career goals and sixth in career points.
Hollar has earned NAIA and NCCAA All-American accolades throughout her career and was the Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Year as a freshman. She is a standout student, boasting a 3.99 GPA as an elementary education major. She is a member of Alpha Chi and will repeat as an NCCAA/NAIA Scholar-Athlete this year.
Hollar posted eight goals and five assists as a sophomore, including a goal in the NCCAA championship game against Lee. In her junior season, she helped lead Grace to the program’s first trip to the NAIA National Championships.
She has demonstrated admirable resolve to overcome an injury-filled career. She has posted her impressive statistics despite undergoing three knee surgeries in her four years. Before her senior season, she had another orthopedic knee surgery but recovered in time to lead the Lady Lancers’ attack in 2016.
In the community, Hollar serves at her local church and with the Council for Exceptional Children. She was a student worker at the Center for Lakes and Streams and currently is a substitute teacher in the Warsaw school system.
Head coach Michael Voss commented that Hollar is a true leader by example both on and off the pitch. “Meredith leads by example through her work ethic, spiritual discernment and love for her teammates. She has unquestionably high character and faith in Christ,” Voss said. “She is quality in competition and in her love for Jesus, and she spurs others on to do the same.”
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