WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's women's soccer team won a marquee battle on Wednesday night.
The No. 8 Lancers (3-0-1) blanked No. 13 Lindsey Wilson 1-0, using a first-half goal from Hollie Robinson to secure Grace's second Top-25 win of the season.
Grace topped the four-time NAIA national champions, using possession and timely attacking to take down the Blue Raiders (1-1).
The Lancers will quickly battle two more ranked opponents over the next eight days. On Saturday, Grace will host No. 21 Columbia at 2 p.m., followed by a neutral-site clash with No. 2 Keiser in Kentucky on Sept. 10.
Wednesday's contest was hotly contested from start to finish. Lindsey Wilson began the match aggressively, trying four shots over the first 10 minutes. Ivy Cline registered her first save in the 10th minute.
But the Lancers struck decisively with their first shot of the match. Following a free kick, Grace quickly moved the ball to the far side of the field. Nora Pollock drove into the penalty box and fired a cross into the box.
The cross took a deflection in front of the goal. Cassidy Felger made a clever pass back into the heart of the box, and Robinson pounded in the game's only goal in the 12th minute.
The Lancers continued to find moments to attack, including a shot from Pollock in the 22nd minute and another from Annika Finch two minutes later.
The match, which began 30 minutes late due to the heat index, also featured two water breaks at the midway mark of each half.
Grace was unable to fire off a shot after the first-half water break, but the Lancers still kept LWU off the scoreboard. The Blue Raiders, who shot nine times in the first half, tried their shots primarily from outside the penalty box.
Cline made a strong save in the 33rd minute, diving to her right to stop a low drive.
As the match moved into the second half, Grace's hold on the game increased. The Lancers began possessing the ball confidently, greatly reducing the Blue Raiders' opportunities.
Only six shots were attempted after halftime as Grace possessed the ball 56 percent of the time.
Neither team took a shot for the first 12 minutes. Rosalie Gefrorer owned the first shot of the half, trying a free kick that was saved.
The Blue Raiders earned their closest chance of the match in the 63rd minute; their shot from the top of the box was saved by a leaping dive from Cline.
The Lancers controlled the final 20 minutes of regulation. Grace's dominance on the ball allowed the Lancers to keep the ball away from dangerous areas. The Blue Raiders did not take a shot over the last 22 minutes, and Grace was able to post the high-profile shutout.
Cline saved four shots; her defensive wall of Robinson, Jaylin Young, Heidi Kever, Hannah Medlin and Madison Webster helped secure the clean sheet.
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