THE OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 1-0 Emmaus Bible
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Attendance: 49
• Record: Sabercats are now 7-7
• Next Game for MBU: Friday, October 20 at 3:30 p.m. at North Central University (Minneapolis)

THE LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- A second-half goal from Nathan Akers sealed a commanding 1-0 win for the Sabercats over a revitalized NCCAA opponent on a rainy Parents' Day afternoon. 

MBU dominated the possession and finished the game with 18 shots but could only get past the spirited Emmaus Bible College Eagles on one occasion.

THE STORY

Emmaus showed marked improvement from the last time the two teams met, as they tested the Sabercats' resolve from start to finish. Brett Cournoyer and Steven Thompson both put shots on frame in the first half, but Gabriel Salinas turned both shots away from the Emmaus goal.

The Eagles' defense stayed compact and organized in the early stages of the second half, but the Sabercats' breakthrough finally came in the 59th minute.

Calvin Perkins found space on the right side and sent a long ball into the box from 45 yards out. Nathan Akers did well to control the aerial ball with a defender on his back, and turned to fire a well-placed shot from the right side of the box that bounced before finding the side netting. Akers' goal was inevitable in the second half, as it was one of 14 second-half shots.

From then on, the Sabercats continued to threaten the Emmaus goal. Eric Fausto created multiple chances with some determined running up the left side, and Brett Cournoyer had two long-range efforts that came close to finding the net.

Akers almost scored his second goal of the game just under 10 minutes from time. A perfectly-weighted Brett Cournoyer pass sent Akers into the box, but Akers' quick shot was turned away by an alert Salinas.

Caleb Hockema anchored a diligent MBU back line, which kept the Eagles at bay for the 90 minutes. Andrew Taylor preserved the clean sheet with 4 saves in the game.

THE NUMBERS

The Sabercats are now 3-1 against NCCAA opponents and hold a 2-0 record in NCCAA regional play.

Akers' goal brings his season tally up to 6 - good enough for second on the team and T-2 in the AD3I.

Andrew Taylor made 4 saves in the shutout, which was his second shutout of the season.

Taylor, Cournoyer, Tyler Nelson, Nathan Campbell, Zeke Steuerwald, Perkins and Hockema all played the full 90 minutes.

Akers finished the day with 2 shots on goal.

The Sabercats have clashed with the Eagles 3 times and hold a 3-0 advantage in the series.

Emmaus showed marked improvement compared to previous years. In 2014, the Sabercats topped the Eagles, 9-0.

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats have now won 3 of their last 4 games and will look to improve that record next Friday at North Central University in Minneapolis. Catch the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.