Sabercats Come up Short in Overtime in Mankato

THE OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 0-1 Bethany Lutheran (OT)
• Venue: BLC Soccer Field
• Attendance: 35
• Record: Sabercats are now 6-7-1
• Next Game for MBU: NCCAA Regionals, Novemebr 3-4 at Emmaus Bible

THE LEAD

MANKATO, Minn. -- A 98th-minute bomb from Bethany Lutheran handed the Sabercats a disappointing regular-season-ending loss this morning.

The Sabercats created chances, and Alexis Sponable was denied by the face of the crossbar in the second half. After a scoreless 90 minutes, Nicole Moldstad fired a 22-yard shot into the far upper corner to seal a 1-0 win for Bethany Lutheran.

THE STORY

The game yielded few scoring chances, as each team combined for just 20 shots over roughly 100 minutes of action. The Sabercats fired off 3 shots in the first 15 minutes but could not convert one.

Alexis Sponable had a chance from the penalty spot at the 35-minute mark, but Averi Cash made the save for Bethany to keep the game scoreless. On the other end, Hannah Anderson did her part in the MBU goal, as she made 4 saves to keep the Vikings off the board in the first half.

Sponable came closest in the second half, but her breakaway attempt in the 73rd minute rattled off the crossbar.

In the overtime period, Moldstad ended the game in spectacular fashion with a shot from outside the box that flew into the far corner.

THE NUMBERS

Anderson made 6 saves in the loss.

The match was the first-ever meeting between the two teams.

The Sabercats out-shot the Vikings, 11-9. 

THE SOUND BITE

"I'm gutted for our girls," said Coach Dave Anderson after the game. "I'm proud of how they played. We continued to improve throughout this game. In terms of the big picture, I feel we are really starting to gel as a squad. Players are embracing their individual roles; it has been a joy to watch. This result stings a little more because we felt the game was there for the taking. We are hungrier than ever for postseason player to get under way."

THE CALENDAR

The Sabercats will now look to the NCCAA postseason. The seeding and game times for the NCCAA North Region Tournament are still to be determined.