WINONA LAKE, Ind. - Grace's women's soccer team collected yet another ranked victory on Saturday, adding to an impressive start to the campaign.
The No. 8 Lancers dispatched No. 21 Columbia 2-0 at 1st Source Bank Field, earning Grace's third ranked win of the season. It's Grace's second ranked win of the week as well after beating No. 13 Lindsey Wilson three days ago.
Grace scored both goals in a two-minute burst, using its possession to control the remainder of Saturday's match.
The match began with fast-paced action on both ends of the field. Each team had chances moving the ball into dangerous areas, but Grace's defense did better to limit shot attempts.
The Lancers (4-0-1) fired off three shots across the opening 6:25 of the match, but Columbia denied the Lancers.
Grace found a breakthrough moment during a moment of brilliance from Audrey Abel. Heidi Kever and Abby Hodkin quickly passed to Abel. Abel found a sliver of open space and fired a long, rising blast that punched into the back of the net at the 11:01 mark.
Just 97 seconds later, Grace's lead doubled. Rosalie Gefrorer picked out Cassidy Felger in the midfield. Felger replicated Abel's goal, scoring another deep strike to stun the Cougars (3-1-1).
The rest of the first half was a dominant possession performance by the Lancers. Grace largely prevented the Cougars from having time on the ball. Columbia broke free for a few shots with 12 minutes left in the half, but Ivy Cline made a leaping save to deny a Cougar goal.
Felger, Hodkin, Gefrorer and Abel also tried shots that were denied by Columbia's defense, and Grace entered halftime ahead 2-0.
The Lancers outshot the Cougars 10-2 in the first half while also earning three corner kicks.
Columbia came out firing to start the second half. The Cougars rattled off four shots to go along with a pair of corner kicks over the first 10 minutes of the half.
But Grace absorbed the early pressure and managed to regain control of play. The Lancers reasserted their possession and began earning shot attempts. Abel had another deep attempt sail to the left, and Rylee Burns's low drive was denied with a diving, one-handed save by Columbia's goalkeeper.
The Lancers were awarded a penalty kick in the 81st minute when Felger was dragged down from behind in the penalty box. But Grace's PK attempt flew above the crossbar.
Columbia was muted to just two shot attempts over the final 35 minutes of regulation, and Grace's defense secured its fourth shutout in five matches.
Cline made four saves to preserve the clean sheet, and defenders Hollie Robinson, Kever, Jaylin Young, Hannah Medlin and Madison Webster managed the back line cleanly.
The Lancers will play one of their marquee matches of the season next week. Grace travels to Cumberlands, Ky., for a pair of neutral-site matches. On Thursday, Grace will square off with the defending NAIA champions and No. 2-ranked Keiser. On Saturday, Grace will battle with St. Thomas.
The Lancers' next home match is Sept. 23 against St. Francis.
