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Photo credit: Hope Ostrander
Photo credit: Hope Ostrander

Great Lakes Christian Takes Overtime Thriller

October 16, 2021 | by Nate Croswell
 
LEAD

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats lost a heartbreaker in overtime against the NCCAA's number one team, Great Lakes Christian, by a score of 1-2 on Parent's Day today.

Jillian Brown scored her second goal as a Sabercat, while her sister Laura Brown backed up her defense with 8 saves.

OVERVIEW

  • Result: Maranatha 1-2 Great Lakes Christian (OT)
  • Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
  • Location: Watertown, Wis.
  • Attendance: -
  • Record: MBU (1-9-1), GLCC (11-2-0)

STORY

Coming off a tough 1-0 loss on Thursday, the Sabercats had a fire brewing as they came into the match against the number one team in the NCCAA, Great Lakes Christian. The Maranatha defense held the Crusader offense at bay the entire game, stopping chance after chance. Angel Steuerwald came away with some massive steals to end runs from the Crusaders, while Hannah Evans and Sarah Moore made brilliant passes to push the attack. However, neither team blinked as the game was scoreless at halftime.

The second half continued to be much of the same, with the offenses pushing and the defenses making big stops. However, in the 75th minute, Kseniya Hassenplug gained control of the ball on the right side of the field and made a high cross into the middle, where Jillian Brown was waiting. Brown corraled the ball and launched the ball into the left corner of the net to give the Sabercats a 1-0 lead late.

But heartbreak ensued as the Crusaders gained a corner kick in the 89th minute. Solara Sheldon sent the cross in and Brooke Pagel scored on the header, devastating the Maranatha players and fans. The Sabercats picked themselves up and held the Crusaders for the final minute to force overtime. Sadly, just minutes into overtime, Crusaders' Randi Fitzgerald made a breakaway through the Sabercat defensive line and beat the lone keeper Laura Brown to win the game for the nation's top team, ending Maranatha's hopes of the upset.

At halftime, Maranatha honored the parents of the players for the influence they have made in their daughters' lives. The Sabercats also honored the seniors (Evans, Steuerwald, Moore, Myah Hoffman, Makayla Willette, and Olivia Vander Pluym) who have dedicated many hours and made so many memories over their careers as Sabercats.

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MBU Starters: 1- L. Brown, 2- Willette, 5- Willette, 6- Warner, 7- Evans (C), 8- Bishop, 12- Moore (C), 13- Schmidt, 16- Vander Pluym, 19- Steuerwald (C), 20- Hassenplug

STATS

  • Shots: Maranatha 8-15 Great Lakes Christian
  • Shots on Goal: Maranatha 6-10 Great Lakes Christian
  • Jillian Brown: 1 goal
  • Kseniya Hassenplug: 1 assist
  • Laura Brown: 8 saves
  • Last time: Great Lakes Christian defeated Maranatha 4-0 on October 1
  • Series: Great Lakes Christian now leads the all-time series 2-1-0

OPPONENTS

  • Great Lakes Christian competes in the NCCAA DII Mideast region
  • Great Lakes Christian is off to their hottest start in program history with a 6-1 record through October 1

NEXT

The Sabercats take on Mount Mary in Milwaukee on Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. Details at mbusabercats.com/schedule.