Neahusan’s Goal Sends Lady Lancers Past St. Francis
October 16, 2017 at 3:59 p.m.
Neahusan’s Goal Sends Lady Lancers Past St. Francis
By Josh Neuhart-
The Lady Lancers (5-6-3, 2-3 Crossroads League) sit just a point out of fourth place in the league standings with four matches remaining in the regular season.
Grace dominated the match in terms of possession and chances created. Overall, Grace outshot USF 32-5 and had all nine corner kicks in the contest.
In the first half, Grace threatened early and often with 16 shots. St. Francis was held to three shots in the half with only one truly dangerous chance which Abby Schue saved.
Sacia Hanson and Autumn Raulerson kept pressure on the Cougars’ backline early in the half, and Emma Neahusan eventually scored the game’s only goal.
After a USF foul, Grace sent a free kick into the penalty box. After the Cougars initially won the kick, Neahusan stole a pass, weaved into the box and sliced in her shot from close range in the 26th minute.
Neahusan nearly scored again minutes later. Shelby Fort found Neahusan on the right side of the box, but her hard shot went wide.
Grace’s substitutes continued the offensive assault to end the half as shots from Riley Koch and Flavia Faria went to no avail.
The pressure continued in the second half as Grace took 16 more shots. Corinne Villalobos had two early shots sail wide, and defender Hannah Tkacz proved dangerous when advancing with a pair of shots that nearly scored.
Van Wormer was a primary initiator of Grace’s offense in the second half, trying four shots in the last 20 minutes. But USF’s defense kept Grace from doubling its advantage.
The Cougars were rarely able to counterattack in the second half and defended for nearly 45 minutes. USF’s last shot in the contest came in the 76th minute, which Schue saved.
Schue had four saves in the 90-minute shutout. She was protected well by the defensive line of Aubrey Feipel, Tkacz, Sabina Meyers and Kristen Bellinger.
Raulerson’s five shots equaled USF’s team total, and Van Wormer and Villalobos each tried four shots. Neahusan and Fort shot three times. Altogether, 14 players for Grace attempted a shot in the match.
The Lady Lancers remain home on Wednesday, hosting Huntington at 7 p.m.
Lancers Jump Into First Place With Road Win
FORT WAYNE – A first-half red card was not enough to stop Grace’s men’s soccer team on Saturday.
The Lancers continued their tear through the Crossroads League, beating St. Francis 2-1 on the road. The win moves Grace into first place in the league standings, leapfrogging Spring Arbor after SAU was defeated on Saturday.
“I thought we started the game really well, and then we gave up a goal on a breakdown on our part. Getting the red card shortly after caused us to lose our composure until halftime,” said Grace head coach Matt Hotchkin. “The second half was more balanced, but we created a lot of good chances even though we were a man down.”
The Lancers (7-2-4, 4-0-1 CL) started the match well, getting on the scoreboard first. Damon Binkley tried a shot that was denied in the 11th minute, and Breno Oliveira pounced on the rebound to score.
The Cougars (4-10, 1-4 CL) were swift in response, scoring the equalizer less than six minutes later.
The match took a dynamic turn in the 35th minute when Grace’s Colin Cape was issued a red card, and the Lancers were forced to play 11-versus-10 for the final 55 minutes of regulation.
Grace survived to halftime, content with the 1-1 scoreline at the break.
Grace, despite playing a man down, refused to play defensive. The Lancers were only outshot 5-4 in the second half and scored the only goal after halftime.
At the 71:00 mark, Grace broke through for the game winner. Cody Boerema dribbled through multiple players and deftly back-heeled a pass to Binkley while on the run. Binkley took care of the rest, burying his shot into the back of the net.
The second half was physical. Nineteen fouls were called after halftime along with six yellow cards — four against the Cougars.
But Grace held firm until the final whistle to pick up the critical road victory. Kurt Hamlin recorded seven saves for the victory in goal.
Boerema recorded three shots, all on goal, and Oliveira and Binkley each shot twice.
“USF was dangerous on the balls that they played into the box, and we are thankful for a victory tonight,” Hotchkin said. “Scoring with a man down is a good result. We can learn from tonight and improve from this. It’s one game at a time for us.”
The Lancers continue league play on Wednesday, traveling to Huntington for a 4 p.m. contest.
Lady Lancers Break Records At MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Saturday will be a day to remember for Grace’s women’s golf team.
The Lady Lancers won the Mt. Vernon Nazarene Invitational, setting personal and team records in the process at Chapel Hill Golf Course.
Grace won the six-team tournament by 29 strokes, including a record-setting first round. The Lady Lancers fired a 306 in the opener, beating the team’s previous-best round by six strokes.
Grace’s 629 was also a program record for a two-round tournament.
Lauren Keiser won the event for Grace with a 75-79. She became the fourth player on the team to win a tournament this fall.
Libby Tully and Anna Marshall finished third and fourth overall. Tully was consistent with a 77-79, and Marshall fired the best round in Lady Lancer history. Her first-round 73 was the lowest single-round score in the program’s three-year history.
Sydney Abbott shot two identical rounds of 81 to tie for sixth place on the individual leaderboard, and Kristin Holt was not far behind at 82-84.
“This was a sensational way to end our fall. Today was a record-setting performance by our ladies!” said Grace head coach Denny Duncan. “We had three of the top-four scores in the tournament, and Lauren becoming the fourth player to win a tournament says a lot about our depth.”
Rachel Harvey, Kara Godsey, April Bishop, Sarah Ganger and Amanda Gifford played for Grace’s “B” team. Harvey’s 80 in the second round and Godsey’s 85 in the opener were personal-best rounds.
The Lady Lancers as a team are finished with the fall season. Abbott will compete as an individual at the NCCAA National Championships from Oct. 23-25.
The Lady Lancers (5-6-3, 2-3 Crossroads League) sit just a point out of fourth place in the league standings with four matches remaining in the regular season.
Grace dominated the match in terms of possession and chances created. Overall, Grace outshot USF 32-5 and had all nine corner kicks in the contest.
In the first half, Grace threatened early and often with 16 shots. St. Francis was held to three shots in the half with only one truly dangerous chance which Abby Schue saved.
Sacia Hanson and Autumn Raulerson kept pressure on the Cougars’ backline early in the half, and Emma Neahusan eventually scored the game’s only goal.
After a USF foul, Grace sent a free kick into the penalty box. After the Cougars initially won the kick, Neahusan stole a pass, weaved into the box and sliced in her shot from close range in the 26th minute.
Neahusan nearly scored again minutes later. Shelby Fort found Neahusan on the right side of the box, but her hard shot went wide.
Grace’s substitutes continued the offensive assault to end the half as shots from Riley Koch and Flavia Faria went to no avail.
The pressure continued in the second half as Grace took 16 more shots. Corinne Villalobos had two early shots sail wide, and defender Hannah Tkacz proved dangerous when advancing with a pair of shots that nearly scored.
Van Wormer was a primary initiator of Grace’s offense in the second half, trying four shots in the last 20 minutes. But USF’s defense kept Grace from doubling its advantage.
The Cougars were rarely able to counterattack in the second half and defended for nearly 45 minutes. USF’s last shot in the contest came in the 76th minute, which Schue saved.
Schue had four saves in the 90-minute shutout. She was protected well by the defensive line of Aubrey Feipel, Tkacz, Sabina Meyers and Kristen Bellinger.
Raulerson’s five shots equaled USF’s team total, and Van Wormer and Villalobos each tried four shots. Neahusan and Fort shot three times. Altogether, 14 players for Grace attempted a shot in the match.
The Lady Lancers remain home on Wednesday, hosting Huntington at 7 p.m.
Lancers Jump Into First Place With Road Win
FORT WAYNE – A first-half red card was not enough to stop Grace’s men’s soccer team on Saturday.
The Lancers continued their tear through the Crossroads League, beating St. Francis 2-1 on the road. The win moves Grace into first place in the league standings, leapfrogging Spring Arbor after SAU was defeated on Saturday.
“I thought we started the game really well, and then we gave up a goal on a breakdown on our part. Getting the red card shortly after caused us to lose our composure until halftime,” said Grace head coach Matt Hotchkin. “The second half was more balanced, but we created a lot of good chances even though we were a man down.”
The Lancers (7-2-4, 4-0-1 CL) started the match well, getting on the scoreboard first. Damon Binkley tried a shot that was denied in the 11th minute, and Breno Oliveira pounced on the rebound to score.
The Cougars (4-10, 1-4 CL) were swift in response, scoring the equalizer less than six minutes later.
The match took a dynamic turn in the 35th minute when Grace’s Colin Cape was issued a red card, and the Lancers were forced to play 11-versus-10 for the final 55 minutes of regulation.
Grace survived to halftime, content with the 1-1 scoreline at the break.
Grace, despite playing a man down, refused to play defensive. The Lancers were only outshot 5-4 in the second half and scored the only goal after halftime.
At the 71:00 mark, Grace broke through for the game winner. Cody Boerema dribbled through multiple players and deftly back-heeled a pass to Binkley while on the run. Binkley took care of the rest, burying his shot into the back of the net.
The second half was physical. Nineteen fouls were called after halftime along with six yellow cards — four against the Cougars.
But Grace held firm until the final whistle to pick up the critical road victory. Kurt Hamlin recorded seven saves for the victory in goal.
Boerema recorded three shots, all on goal, and Oliveira and Binkley each shot twice.
“USF was dangerous on the balls that they played into the box, and we are thankful for a victory tonight,” Hotchkin said. “Scoring with a man down is a good result. We can learn from tonight and improve from this. It’s one game at a time for us.”
The Lancers continue league play on Wednesday, traveling to Huntington for a 4 p.m. contest.
Lady Lancers Break Records At MVNU
MOUNT VERNON, Ohio - Saturday will be a day to remember for Grace’s women’s golf team.
The Lady Lancers won the Mt. Vernon Nazarene Invitational, setting personal and team records in the process at Chapel Hill Golf Course.
Grace won the six-team tournament by 29 strokes, including a record-setting first round. The Lady Lancers fired a 306 in the opener, beating the team’s previous-best round by six strokes.
Grace’s 629 was also a program record for a two-round tournament.
Lauren Keiser won the event for Grace with a 75-79. She became the fourth player on the team to win a tournament this fall.
Libby Tully and Anna Marshall finished third and fourth overall. Tully was consistent with a 77-79, and Marshall fired the best round in Lady Lancer history. Her first-round 73 was the lowest single-round score in the program’s three-year history.
Sydney Abbott shot two identical rounds of 81 to tie for sixth place on the individual leaderboard, and Kristin Holt was not far behind at 82-84.
“This was a sensational way to end our fall. Today was a record-setting performance by our ladies!” said Grace head coach Denny Duncan. “We had three of the top-four scores in the tournament, and Lauren becoming the fourth player to win a tournament says a lot about our depth.”
Rachel Harvey, Kara Godsey, April Bishop, Sarah Ganger and Amanda Gifford played for Grace’s “B” team. Harvey’s 80 in the second round and Godsey’s 85 in the opener were personal-best rounds.
The Lady Lancers as a team are finished with the fall season. Abbott will compete as an individual at the NCCAA National Championships from Oct. 23-25.
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092