Grace Shocks No. 7 IWU With Emphatic Sweep
September 18, 2020 at 2:40 p.m.
Grace Shocks No. 7 IWU With Emphatic Sweep
By Josh Neuhart-
Grace dismantled No. 7 IWU, winning 3-0 to move into first place in the Crossroads League standings.
The Lady Lancers (4-0, 4-0 CL) snapped an 18-game losing streak to the Wildcats (3-1, 3-1 CL), a drought dating back to 2012. And Grace broke the streak in dominant fashion.
IWU was held to a .000 attack percentage as a team thanks to a dominant team defense. Grace had four players reach double-digit digs in just three sets, including 11 digs by Anna Frey and Julia Nagy as well as 10 digs from Gabbey Harrington and Brittany Baize.
Frey was lethal, amassing a double-double with a match-high 11 kills, 11 digs and 3 block assists. Paige Eakright was also impressive with six kills, including several timely winners.
The Wildcats had no answer to Grace’s defense in the first set. IWU racked up 12 errors in Grace’s 25-13 win.
Grace jumped out to a 17-5 lead in the opening set and cruised to victory.
The second set was the only close one. The teams could scarcely be separated as IWU grabbed a slight 20-18 margin. Eakright and Katie Swanson responded with kills on consecutive plays to tie the score.
The set went to extra points after IWU fended off two set points, but Grace showed resolve to pick up the pivotal second game at 26-24. The final point came on a stellar block from Makaela Lochmueller and Frey.
IWU seemed shellshocked and could not recoup in the third set. Grace scored the first four points and never looked back.
The Lady Lancers ended the match on a 7-1 run. Eakright put the exclamation mark on the sweep with a thunderous kill to end the match 25-13.
Harrington finished with a double-double of 21 assists and 10 digs, and Lochmueller added 5 kills, 4 digs and 3 block assists. Makayla Bell tallied four kills on a .364 percentage, and Gina Novotny chipped in eight digs.
The Lady Lancers will take their 4-0 record on the road Saturday, facing Huntington at 7 p.m.
Wildcats hold on for draw with No. 14 Grace
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s women’s soccer team had a strong showing on Wednesday in a 1-1 double overtime draw with No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan.
The NAIA No. 14-ranked Lady Lancers dominated long stretches of the match, owning a 28-8 advantage in shot attempts.
Grace limited the Wildcats (1-0-1, 1-0-1 CL) in the first half to just three shots and zero corner kicks. The Lady Lancers possessed with an intent to score and eventually did.
In the 33rd minute, Madison Tuma found space on the right side of the penalty box, and the sophomore powered her shot into the goal. Lea Fricke and Victoria Lucido teamed up for the assist on the play.
The Lady Lancers (1-0-1, 1-0-1 CL) tried two more shots and a corner kick in the final minutes, but Grace was unable to find a second goal.
IWU managed five more shots after halftime, but the Lady Lancers doubled that with 12 attempts.
Despite that shot advantage, it was IWU who netted in the second half. The Wildcats leveled the score in the 57th minute, taking advantage of a miscue in the penalty box to score.
JJ Aalbue, Tuma, Alexis Larimore and Ashley Vandenboom all had shots after IWU’s goal, but the Wildcats’ net remained unharmed.
Grace pressed hard for an overtime winner, keeping the Wildcats on their heels. The Lady Lancers outshot IWU 9-0 across the two overtime sessions.
Grace had two strong chances to score in the first overtime. Aalbue had a shot that was saved, and Tuma had another close-range shot that forced a diving save from the Wildcats.
The Lady Lancers tried four more shots in the final OT, but no winner was to be found on Wednesday evening.
Aalbue fired seven shots with three on goal, and Larimore and Tuma each shot five times.
Seventeen of Grace’s shots were on goal compared to five for the Wildcats. Grace also had all five corner kicks in the match. IWU did not take a shot for the final 22 minutes of the match.
Grace dismantled No. 7 IWU, winning 3-0 to move into first place in the Crossroads League standings.
The Lady Lancers (4-0, 4-0 CL) snapped an 18-game losing streak to the Wildcats (3-1, 3-1 CL), a drought dating back to 2012. And Grace broke the streak in dominant fashion.
IWU was held to a .000 attack percentage as a team thanks to a dominant team defense. Grace had four players reach double-digit digs in just three sets, including 11 digs by Anna Frey and Julia Nagy as well as 10 digs from Gabbey Harrington and Brittany Baize.
Frey was lethal, amassing a double-double with a match-high 11 kills, 11 digs and 3 block assists. Paige Eakright was also impressive with six kills, including several timely winners.
The Wildcats had no answer to Grace’s defense in the first set. IWU racked up 12 errors in Grace’s 25-13 win.
Grace jumped out to a 17-5 lead in the opening set and cruised to victory.
The second set was the only close one. The teams could scarcely be separated as IWU grabbed a slight 20-18 margin. Eakright and Katie Swanson responded with kills on consecutive plays to tie the score.
The set went to extra points after IWU fended off two set points, but Grace showed resolve to pick up the pivotal second game at 26-24. The final point came on a stellar block from Makaela Lochmueller and Frey.
IWU seemed shellshocked and could not recoup in the third set. Grace scored the first four points and never looked back.
The Lady Lancers ended the match on a 7-1 run. Eakright put the exclamation mark on the sweep with a thunderous kill to end the match 25-13.
Harrington finished with a double-double of 21 assists and 10 digs, and Lochmueller added 5 kills, 4 digs and 3 block assists. Makayla Bell tallied four kills on a .364 percentage, and Gina Novotny chipped in eight digs.
The Lady Lancers will take their 4-0 record on the road Saturday, facing Huntington at 7 p.m.
Wildcats hold on for draw with No. 14 Grace
WINONA LAKE - Grace’s women’s soccer team had a strong showing on Wednesday in a 1-1 double overtime draw with No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan.
The NAIA No. 14-ranked Lady Lancers dominated long stretches of the match, owning a 28-8 advantage in shot attempts.
Grace limited the Wildcats (1-0-1, 1-0-1 CL) in the first half to just three shots and zero corner kicks. The Lady Lancers possessed with an intent to score and eventually did.
In the 33rd minute, Madison Tuma found space on the right side of the penalty box, and the sophomore powered her shot into the goal. Lea Fricke and Victoria Lucido teamed up for the assist on the play.
The Lady Lancers (1-0-1, 1-0-1 CL) tried two more shots and a corner kick in the final minutes, but Grace was unable to find a second goal.
IWU managed five more shots after halftime, but the Lady Lancers doubled that with 12 attempts.
Despite that shot advantage, it was IWU who netted in the second half. The Wildcats leveled the score in the 57th minute, taking advantage of a miscue in the penalty box to score.
JJ Aalbue, Tuma, Alexis Larimore and Ashley Vandenboom all had shots after IWU’s goal, but the Wildcats’ net remained unharmed.
Grace pressed hard for an overtime winner, keeping the Wildcats on their heels. The Lady Lancers outshot IWU 9-0 across the two overtime sessions.
Grace had two strong chances to score in the first overtime. Aalbue had a shot that was saved, and Tuma had another close-range shot that forced a diving save from the Wildcats.
The Lady Lancers tried four more shots in the final OT, but no winner was to be found on Wednesday evening.
Aalbue fired seven shots with three on goal, and Larimore and Tuma each shot five times.
Seventeen of Grace’s shots were on goal compared to five for the Wildcats. Grace also had all five corner kicks in the match. IWU did not take a shot for the final 22 minutes of the match.
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