WINONA LAKE – Grace and Spring Arbor met in the home-and-home men’s and women’s soccer matches Wednesday night, both with big implications on the Crossroads League championship races.

SPRING ARBOR MEN’S SOCCER 2, GRACE 0

Grace’s men’s soccer team was unable to upset No. 14 Spring Arbor on Wednesday, falling 2-0 at 1st Source Bank Field.

The Lancers (10-3-3, 4-1-2 Crossroads League) outshot SAU on the night by a significant margin at 19-8. But the Cougars (13-3, 7-0 CL) made their chances count to win on Wednesday.

The match turned SAU’s way early. The Cougars scored off a scrum in the penalty box just three minutes into the match, stunning the host Lancers.

Grace thought it had an equalizer midway into the first half. Damon Binkley had a hard shot that was saved, and the rebound fell to Cody Boerema. His shot was judged to have been stopped by a SAU defender on the goal line despite Grace’s pleas that the ball crossed the line.

The Lancers, who outshot SAU 9-4 in the first half, had the better share of possession. Grace had another dangerous opportunity with 10 minutes to play in the half. Boerema tried a hard blast that whizzed just past the goalposts.

The half ended with SAU ahead 1-0. The Lancers had five shots on goal and nine shots overall.

The Lancers’ attack continued in earnest after halftime. Grace showed urgency with 10 more shots in the second half.

SAU mimicked its first half with another early goal to start the second half. The Cougars were fouled in the penalty box and converted the penalty kick for a 2-0 lead.

The Cougars absorbed Grace’s pressure effectively, limiting the Lancers to just two shots on goal of those 10 shots.

The match picked up intensity as the second half progressed. Overall 32 fouls were called and seven yellow cards were issued.

Colin Cape and Boerema each tried six shots, and Breno Oliveira shot four times.

“We won in almost every statistical category, but the most important stat was a loss. They won the physical battle tonight, but outside of that key component I thought we played good enough to win. I thought SAU’s physical strength, especially in the air, was the deciding factor on the night,” said Grace head coach Matt Hotchkin. “Hats off to SAU and congratulations to them for winning the regular season championship. We turn our attention now to St. Francis on Saturday. We need to bring a bit more grit, and the guys are committed to doing just that.”

The Lancers remain at home on Saturday, hosting St. Francis at 7 p.m. Saturday will also be Senior Night to honor Grace’s nine-player graduating class.

SPRING ARBOR WOMEN’S SOCCER 3, GRACE 0

The reigning NAIA champions proved to be too much for No. 21 Grace’s women’s soccer team on Wednesday.

The Lady Lancers fell 3-0 at No. 1 Spring Arbor, snapping a 10-game winning streak for Grace.

Spring Arbor was aggressive in the first half, resulting in a two-goal advantage. The Cougars (13-0-1, 7-0 Crossroads League) scored the go-ahead goal 11 minutes into the match.

SAU’s lead doubled before halftime as the Cougars scored on a penalty kick in the 31st minute.

The Lady Lancers (14-2, 6-1 CL) had two shots on goal before halftime, but attempts from Joana Schimmel and Sacia Hanson were both saved.

Grace was unable to puncture SAU’s lead in the second half as only one of the team’s shot attempts was on target. The Cougars added an insurance goal in the 67th minute for the game’s final tally.

Hanson had three shots for Grace, half of the team’s total. Two of her shots were on goal.

Bethany Blackwood, who had been superb in Grace’s recent undefeated stretch, made eight saves in 90 minutes as Grace’s goalkeeper.

The Lady Lancers travel to St. Francis on Saturday at 7 p.m. for the second-to-last regular season game.