Grace Soccer: Forging To A Draw
WINONA LAKE – Playing at less than full strength, Grace’s women’s soccer team still produced a 1-1 tie with Georgetown on Wednesday.
The Lady Lancers thought they had beaten Georgetown, a team who is also receiving votes in the NAIA. But an overtime goal from Jenni Phillips was controversially disallowed for being offsides.
Grace had 21 shots in the match, including 14 on goal. The Lady Lancers also had a 1-0 lead heading into the second half.
But the Tigers capitalized on a defensive error to tie the game, and neither side could score again.
Autumn Raulerson scored the first goal of the match in spectacular fashion. Clair Snodgrass was fouled at the edge of the penalty box, and Raulerson took the free kick. The freshman curled her 20-yard attempt into the net at the 7:28 mark.
The rest of the half was placid as Grace took that 1-0 lead into halftime. Grace also held an 8-4 shot advantage.
Georgetown regained its footing in the second half. The Tigers took the first six shots of the second half, including the game-tying goal. Georgetown pounced on a defensive miscue by Grace to score in the 61st minute.
With 15 minutes remaining in the game, Grace’s offense shifted into attack mode. Hannah Tkacz nearly scored on a tremendous individual effort, dribbling her way from midfield to the top of the penalty box. But Tkacz’s shot was deflected wide.
Phillips and Snodgrass tried two shots apiece in the final 10 minutes, but all four shots were saved.
Raulerson almost won the game with five minutes to go. She made a charge on the left side of the field and sliced a left-footed shot under pressure towards the Tigers’ goal, but Georgetown’s goalkeeper made a leaping save.
In the first overtime, Phillips and Raulerson combined on an attack, but Raulerson’s shot rolled just wide of the far post. Minutes later, Liz Van Wormer had a low shot that was saved.
The most-talked-about moment of the match came in the second overtime period. With three minutes remaining, Raulerson played a leading pass to Phillips. Phillips ran by two defenders and calmly scored the apparent game winner, only to be denied by an offsides call on the pass from Raulerson.
Grace continued to be the aggressor and had two more attacking opportunities in the final minutes, but the match ended 1-1 after 110 minutes.
Phillips had five shots, all on goal, to lead Grace’s attack.
Tkacz, Carlie Salinas, Sabina Meyers and Allison Vroon defended Grace’s territory relentlessly all match. Grace’s defense has allowed just two goals over the last 668 minutes of action.
The Lady Lancers remain at home next week. Grace will host Ohio Christian at 7 p.m. in the final nonleague match of the year.