WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's women's soccer team handled Indiana Wesleyan in a top-10 battle on Wednesday night.
The No. 7 Lancers (9-1-1, 3-0 Crossroads League) almost doubled No. 4 IWU in shots, winning 3-1 and handing the Wildcats their first defeat.
Grace will quickly host another ranked opponent. The Lancers will take on No. 2 Marian on Saturday at 1:30 p.m., climaxing Grace College's Homecoming weekend at 1st Source Bank Field.
The first half saw Grace flex its possession muscles. The Lancers owned 70 percent of possession, keeping IWU pinned into their defensive half.
Early in the match, Grace found space for long-range shot attempts from Nora Pollock and Audrey Abel.
Midway into the half, Grace unleashed a series of chances. Pollock and Abby Hodkin combined on a slick give-and-go combination. Pollock's shot in the box, however, was saved.
A few minutes later, Annika Finch unleashed a shot that went wide of the goal.
Grace's possession seemed to get even more iron-clad as the half progressed. The Wildcats found little time on the ball as Grace built their offense.
Not long afterwards, Abel muscled off three Wildcats inside the box and placed a shot to the far post, but her attempt glanced harmlessly off the left goalpost.
The go-ahead moment came in the 33rd minute. Heidi Kever was fouled in Grace's attacking half of the field. The ensuing free kick was taken by Rosalie Gefrorer, who tucked her deep shot inside the goalpost.
Grace entered halftime with a 1-0 lead. The Lancers dominated chances, outshooting IWU 11-3 and taking the only three corner kicks of the match.
The second half began the same as Grace immediately threatened. Abel tried a shot at the top edge of the box that was saved in the opening minute of the half.
The Wildcats (9-1-2, 1-1-1 CL) tried to respond, taking three shots over a three-minute span.
But the Lancers were not phased and quickly reasserted themselves. With 30 minutes remaining in the match, Pollock juked a defender and unleashed a low drive that pierced the back of the net.
With 14 minutes to go, Grace's lead grew to three. Abby Hodkin passed to Cassidy Felger in the box. Felger dribbled between a trio of Wildcats and slotted a calm finish past the goalkeeper.
The Wildcats managed to strike late. IWU redirected a free kick from midfield into the net in the 80th minute.
Grace tried two more shots on goal over the closing 10 minutes, but each attempt was saved.
The Lancers outshot IWU 19-10 for the match. The Wildcats had three shots on goal.
Elaina Clapp made two saves to earn the win in goal. The defending unit of Hollie Robinson, Jaylin Young, Kever and Hannah Medlin kept the Wildcats in check.
