Overview

• Result: Maranatha 2-3 Grace Bible
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Attendance: 95
• Record: Sabercats are now 4-3
• Next Game for MBU: Saturday, September 23 at 2 p.m. vs MSOE

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- For the Sabercats, it was "the one that got away," as they fell to their NCCAA rivals, the Grace Bible College Tigers, this afternoon by one goal.

Daniel Sischo, who has scored in each of the previous 3 seasons against MBU, produced a hat-trick which negated goals from Nathan Akers and Tyler Nelson and snapped the Sabercats' 3-game winning streak. The heat was a factor for both teams, as kickoff temperatures registered at 91 degrees.

The opening goal came against the run of play, as Sischo pounced on a missed Sabercat clearance to score from outside the box. Sischo's goal would hold up until the 34th minute, when Zeke Steuerwald sent a perfectly-weighted long ball to set up Akers on a breakaway. Akers picked his spot in the lower left-hand corner to even the score.

The Tigers regained the lead just before the break, as Sischo again collected a missed Sabercat clearance to score from just inside the box. At halftime, it was 2-1 Tigers.

The Sabercats created numerous chances in the second half, and they finally broke through in the 62nd minute when a Caleb Hockema pass found Nelson at the top of the box. Nelson sent a swerving shot to the lower-left corner that got the better of a diving Jake Larsen. Two all.

Just 8 minutes later, Sischo once again punished the Sabercats for the missed clearance of a ball in their penalty area. Sischo's final goal was practically gift-wrapped, as the deflected ball fell just inside the box for Sischo to bury in the bottom corner.

The Sabercats created chances late in the game but could not find their way to the back of the Grace net.

For Nelson, it was his third goal in as many games. Akers added his fourth goal of the season, and he currently leads the team with 10 points.

Since 2010, the Sabercats hold the advantage in the series at 7-3.

"Hats off to Grace," said Coach Jeff Pill after the game. "They took advantage of opportunites that came from a lack of execution on our part. I thought we looked dangerous at times, but we are disappointed to come away without a result. We look forward to tomorrow's game against MSOE."

The Sabercats will have a quick turnaround, as they face the MSOE Raiders tomorrow at 2 p.m. at home. Catch all the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.