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Grace held an 11-6 advantage in shots on goal and a 9-6 lead in corner kicks, but the Lancers had one goal called back just before the half and had other chances come up just short. As well, Grace was forced to play catch-up for most of the game as it was never able to take the lead.
St. Francis' Michael Bitler scored on a header following a free kick from Zack Linson 27 minutes into the contest that put the Cougars ahead 1-0. But Grace continued to fight and thought it had tied the game on a Jon Popenfoose goal with just 18 seconds to play in the opening stanza, but the goal was waived off for offsides.
The Lancers continued to battle in the second half and eventually tied the game as Jeff Muldoon found Aaron White's free kick and planted it in the back of the net at the 66 minute mark.
Just eight minutes later, however, St. Francis' Derek Nusbaum got the ball streaking down the right sideline and made the run towards goal. Grace's Joel Popenfoose came over to deflect Nusbaum's shot at the last moment, but the ball instead went to the opposite side of the goal from the initial flight and keeper John Leopold could not get his momentum heading back the opposite direction fast enough.
Grace put together a furious comeback attempt, but was unable to find the equalizer over the final 16 minutes.
With the loss, Grace falls to 4-3-1 overall and is now 0-1 in the Mid-Central Conference. The Lancers will try to bounce back Wednesday with a home game against Spring Arbor at 4 p.m.
ST. FRANCIS 2, GRACE 1
St. Francis 1 1 - 2
Grace 0 1 - 1
Scoring - 1. St. Francis, Michael Bitler (Zack Linson assist), 27:00; 2. Grace, Jeff Muldoon (Aaron White assist), 66:00; 3. St. Francis, Derek Nusbaum, 74:00.
Shots on goal - Grace 11, St. Francis 6. Corner kicks - Grace 9, St. Francis 6. Keeper saves - John Leopold (Grace) 3, Justin Wren (St. Francis) 10.
Women's Soccer
Saturday In Goshen
The Grace College women's soccer team surpassed its 2004 win total with a 1-0 shutout of Goshen College Saturday in Mid-Central Conference action.
Grace (5-6, 1-2 MCC) will host one of the Mid-Central Conference favorites, St. Francis, Tuesday at 4 p.m.
GRACE 1, GOSHEN 0
Grace 0 1 - 1
Goshen 0 0 - 0
Scoring - 1. Grace, Lindsay Anderson (Kari Wildman assist), 48:00.
Shots on goal - Grace 14, Goshen 1. Saves - Emmy Gibson (Goshen) 13, Rachel Wallace (Grace) 1. Corner kicks - Grace 8, Goshen 3.
Women's Tennis
Saturday In Winona Lake
The Marian women's tennis team won three three-set matches as the Knights defeated Grace College 5-4 Saturday in Mid-Central Conference action. Grace fell behind in double play and was unable to win a majority of the singles matches to get the win.
Grace (3-5, 3-4 MCC) will end conference play Tuesday at Bethel at 1 p.m. Grace finished 3-5 in the MCC a year ago and will at least equal that mark.
MARIAN 5, GRACE 4
Singles
No. 1 - Julie Wegener (Grace) def. Janelle Koenig 6-2, 6-1
No. 2 - Anna Metz (Grace) def. Stefanie Krueger 3-0, retired
No. 3 - Loye Kegley (Marian) def. Sarah Peters 6-2, 6-7 (5-7), 6-0
No. 4 - Juli Linton (Grace) def. Katrina Kroics 6-7, 7-5, 6-4
No. 5 - Jessica Pswarayi (Marian) def. Kayla Semmerling 6-2, 4-6, 6-4
No. 6 - Michelle Sizemore (Marian) def. Kari Hueni 6-2, 2-6, 6-1
Doubles
No. 1 - Metz/Peters (Grace) def. Kroics/Kegley 8-4
No. 2 - Pswarayi/Koenig (Marian) def. Wegener/Brandy Allen 8-5
No. 3 - Sizemore/Bridget Tucker (Marian) def. Linton/Semmerling 8-2
Grace Men's Tennis Loses To Marian
WINONA LAKE, IN - Landon Reifsnider continued his winning ways at No. 1 singles Saturday, but the Grace College men's tennis team lost to Marian 8-1 in Mid-Central Conference action.
In an ongoing story line, Reifsnider again came from behind to defeat a strong opponent. Marian's Jess Martin led 4-1 in the opening set and 4-0 in the second set, but Reifsnider found a way to pull out a 6-4, 6-4 straight set victory. The rest of the Lancers failed to find the success he did, though, as Grace lost the rest of the singles in straight sets.
Zac McGowen did battle at No. 4 singles, but lost 7-5, 7-5. In doubles, Marcus Moore and Josh Sloop lost 8-5 at No. 3 and Reifsnider and Matt Blevins lost 8-4 at No. 1.
Grace (0-6, 0-6 MCC) will play at Bethel Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.
MARIAN 8, GRACE 1
Singles
No. 1 - Landon Reifsnider (Grace) def. Jesse Martin 6-4, 6-4
No. 2 - Pete Trgovich (Marian) def. Matt Blevins 6-3, 6-1
No. 3 - Clay Schneider (Marian) def. Drew McIntire 6-1, 6-0
No. 4 - Jesse Miller (Marian) def. Zac McGowen 7-5, 7-5
No. 5 - Neal Knies (Marian) def. Marcus Moore 6-2, 6-2
No. 6 - Alex Bienz (Marian) def. Scott Abshagen 6-0, 6-0
Doubles
No. 1 - Martin/Miller (Marian) def. Reifsnider/Blevins 8-4
No. 2 - Schneider/Knies (Marian) def. McIntire/McGowen 8-0
No. 3 - Bienz/Clint Brand (Marian) def. Moore/Josh Sloop 8-5
