WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. - For the first time this season, Grace's women's soccer team tasted defeat.
The No. 8 Lancers fell 3-0 to No. 2 Keiser, the defending NAIA national champions. The final scoreline was not indicative of the closeness of the match, however, as two of the goals came in the last nine minutes.
The first half was evenly played. Keiser (4-0-1) and Grace (4-1-1) took turns possessing the ball, sharing a handful of threatening moments.
Grace threatened first by taking the first two shots of the match. Audrey Abel was open for an attempt outside the penalty box which sailed high, and Rosalie Gefrorer's shot was blocked.
The go-ahead moment came in the 25th minute. The Seahawks launched a deep strike that dipped just below the crossbar for the opening goal.
The Lancers' pressure nearly resulted in a first-half equalizer. After stealing the ball from Keiser's defense, Nora Pollock tried a quick shot in the 34th minute that was pushed wide by the goalkeeper.
Grace went into halftime behind 1-0. Keiser had four shots compared to three for Grace, but the Lancers took the only two corner kicks of the half.
In the second half, Grace boosted its offense. The Lancers' possession attack was synchronized as the team pursued an equalizer.
Grace held the Seahawks largely quiet for the first 20 minutes of the second half as the Lancers controlled the ball and advanced into dangerous positions.
But Keiser found life with 20 minutes remaining. The Seahawks found room to counterattack and tried a handful of chances. Keiser tallied an insurance goal with 8:36 left and then added another on a free kick 87 seconds later.
Grace had its share of opportunities in the second half. Late in the game, Grace earned a series of corner kicks and had other dangerous crosses into the penalty box.
The Lancers had a few headers near the goal line, but Grace was unable to convert any of the aerial balls in the box.
Grace finished the match with seven corner kicks compared to three for Keiser; five of Grace's corners came in the second half.
The Lancers will remain in Kentucky to take on another Florida team. Grace will square off with St. Thomas on Saturday at 11 a.m.
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