WINONA LAKE, Ind. - The NAIA Top-15 matchup between No. 15 Grace's women's soccer team and No. 9 Indiana Wesleyan lived up to the hype on Wednesday.

IWU escaped 1st Source Bank Field with a 1-0 win with the only difference in the match being a 23-yard free kick goal.

The match started evenly with each team trying a few shots over the opening 15 minutes. IWU pressed aggressively, slowing Grace's usual possession-based approach.

The Wildcats found the first goal of the match on their first shot on goal. After being awarded a free kick, the Wildcats buried a deep free kick to take a 1-0 lead midway through the opening half.

JJ Aalbue and Madison Tuma both had shots for Grace, proving to be the Lady Lancers' most threatening moments.

Neither team could find the back of the net again, resulting in a 1-0 IWU lead at halftime. The squads both fired five shots with two being on frame.

Offense was hard to come by to start the second half. Just two shots were attempted over the first 20 minutes.

Grace began to find its possession midway into the second half. Danae Moriarty was a constant threat on IWU's defensive line, completing a number of dribbling runs along the left side of the field.

The Lady Lancers continued to be the offensive aggressors as Grace's possession seemed to wear down the Wildcats. Grace had a strong run of possession for long periods throughout the final 20 minutes.

Grace had several dangerous moments, including chances from JJ Aalbue, Moriarty and Alexis Larimore. But Grace was unable to make good on those moments, including twice losing the ball in the penalty box after slipping on the wet grass.

IWU held on late to grab the 1-0 victory, withstanding Grace's final attacks.

Aalbue led Grace with three shots, and Moriarty and Larimore each shot twice.

The Lady Lancers end the regular season at home on Saturday. Grace hosts Mt. Vernon Nazarene at 1st Source Bank Field at 7 p.m. The teams are separated by just one win in the league standings, meaning Grace and MVNU may square off again in the quarterfinals of the Crossroads League Tournament.