ANN ARBOR, Mich. - An overtime goal handed Grace's women's soccer team an early exit in the NCCAA Regional Tournament.
The Lady Lancers lost 2-1 in overtime at Concordia in the semifinals of the regional tournament. Concordia advances to play at Indiana Wesleyan in the regional title game; the winner of that game receives an automatic bid to the NCCAA National Championships.
"I'm super proud of these women. This Concordia team is pretty good. The game went sideways at times, and they managed that well. We had really good, solid sections where we played some fantastic futbol. They responded super well to not being granted a PK early in the first half and late in the second second," said Grace head coach Michael Voss. "I loved that they found the net on a solid build-up. This match could have gone either way. I loved the chances created in overtime. Scrum goals are tough, especially a game winner."
Friday's game in the regional tournament was scoreless through the first 53 minutes of action. Neither team found the back of the net in the first half despite 18 combined shots.
Liz Van Wormer was active early for Grace, taking three shots in the opening 10 minutes.
Concordia opened the game's scoring in the 54th minute and was poised to win in regulation.
But a late push from Grace tied the contest. Van Wormer passed a ball to Sacia Hanson, and Hanson converted with 5:40 remaining in the game to make the score 1-1.
The Cardinals (12-9) tried several shots down the stretch to no avail as the match went to overtime.
The Lady Lancers (7-9-4) started as the stronger team in the first overtime. Van Wormer and Autumn Raulerson each had a shot in the opening minutes, but Concordia won the match soon after. Raulerson beat the goalkeeper, but her shot under heavy pressure went wide.
The Cardinals earned a corner kick and connected on the cross in the 97th minute for the golden goal winner.
Van Wormer's four shots led Grace, and Raulerson and Clair Snodgrass shot twice apiece.
"This group has grown tremendously this year: spiritually, academically and in futbol. We have excellent leadership, and I've felt that we are only recently finding futbol unity," Voss continued. "I'm stoked for this group as they live out their love for Jesus and balling in futbol."
