ADRIAN, Mich. – The No. 1 ranked Spring Arbor University women’s soccer team remained unbeaten following a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Siena Heights University in a Top 25 showdown on Tuesday night. Freshman Morgan Marshall tallied the game-winner in the 75th minute to hand the No. 16 Saints their first setback of the season.
Despite no shots finding the back of the net, the first half saw plenty of action. The Cougars placed four shots on frame while a shot from Aubrey Schierbeek bounced off the crossbar. The Saints also had some looks at the goal, but Ashley Timmons stopped all three attempts she faced, including two in the final minute.
The match remained scoreless until the 75th minute when freshman Kaley Buck played a through ball to Marshall, and she slipped a shot past the SHU netminder to the far post for her second goal of the season.
Spring Arbor dominated the match statistically over the final 45 minutes, holding a 9-2 edge in shots and a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks.
Timmons registered a career-high four saves to earn her second clean sheet of the season.
Bethany Balcer, the reigning Crossroads League Offensive Player of the Week, collected seven shots, including three on goal, while Schierbeek followed with four.
Over the last 11 contests against teams either ranked or receiving votes in the NAIA Top 25 Poll, the Cougars are a perfect 11-0, and have combined to outscore those opponents 27-1.
Spring Arbor has won each of the last six meetings with Siena Heights. The last time the Saints came out on top was during the 2006 season.
Samantha Bartelotti, the Saints leading scorer this season, finished the night with a team-high four shots, including three on frame. Emily Loar also added two shots and Paige Rachut tallied one.
Spring Arbor will travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday, Sept. 3 to take on Point Park University (0-0-1) at Highmark Stadium beginning at 2 p.m. Following the road trip, the Cougars will return home to host No. 2 Lindsey Wilson College (2-1) on Saturday, Sept. 10 in a rematch of the 2015 NAIA national championship game.
