January 5, 2022 | by Taylor Pill

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- One year after capturing the first NCCAA DII National Title in program history, the Sabercats entered the 2021 season with new faces and new goals, as the squad fielded a very different-looking team from the previous year's national championship run but stayed notably competitive at the NCCAA level.

It all culminated with an NCCAA North Region Championship appearance, but the Sabercats ultimately fell 2-0 to an energetic Faith Baptist side to conclude the season. The loss marked a 3-3-1 record and an even goal differential in the Sabercats' last seven games.

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NEWS ON THE NEWBIES

The Sabercats had lost six key contributors from last year's national championship run, so rebuilding the starting lineup was like piecing together a puzzle for head coach Jeff Pill. With new and returning players in key roles, the team took just one win away from the month of September.

But once the team found their stride, they ended the season with some of their best soccer of the year. Their seven-game stretch to close included falling 2-1 in overtime to Great Lakes Christian, who eventually won the NCCAA DII National Championship. All told, the Sabercats had four losses by just one goal, as they stayed tight with their NCCAA opponents.

The high points of the season came with shutout wins over Mount Mary and Lincoln Christian, and a 1-1 tie with Faith closed the regular season out and set up an eye-catching NCCAA North Region Tournament.

The biggest win of the season came the very next game, as Hannah Evans sent the North Central Rams packing with a soaring shot in the NCCAA North Region Semifinal. Evans' bolt from the blue won the game with just over a minute left in regulation.

���� Hannah Evans.

GAME. ❄️�� pic.twitter.com/qC1ak1IDDZ

— Maranatha Athletics (@MBUSabercats) November 6, 2021

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Although the Sabercats lost in the North Region Championship to Faith the next day, their progress, performance, and persistence from the 2021 season can't be overstated. 

Hannah Evans, Myah Hoffmann, Sarah Moore, Rebecca Riley, Angel Steuerwald, Olivia Vander Pluym, and Makayla Willette all played their final game in Maranatha colors in that loss to Faith, meaning that next year, the Sabercats will have to replace 13 roster spots in just two seasons.

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OVERVIEW

• Record: 4-10-2
• NCCAA Record: 2-6-1
• NCCAA Finish: North Region Runners-Up
• Notable: Six starters from 2020 National Championship game did not return
• Notable: 3-3-1 record and even goal difference in last seven games

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AWARDS

At the semester-end Athletic Awards Assembly, the Sabercats announced their team awards, which are voted on by the team and are based on the team's CORE BELIEF DOCUMENT. In addition to these honors, the student-athletes earned awards from the National Christian College Athletic Association.

A complete breakdown of the awards is listed below:

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For more on the program, visit their team page HERE.