Jackson, Michigan– Spring Arbor Women’s Soccer has advanced to the NAIA Semifinals after their 2-1 win over Benedictine College. The Kansas school was No. 9 ranked in the country, and had an overall record of 20-1-2 on the season. The contest was a rematch of last season’s national championship- which SAU won.
Spring Arbor will play Keiser University of Florida in the national tournament semifinals. The Cougars now stand at 20-1-1 on the season. Spring Arbor was outshot for just the third time this season, 17-15. Despite being outshot, they recorded five corner kicks to the Ravens’ one.
This is the fourth straight year Spring Arbor University has punched its ticket to the NAIA Women’s Soccer National Championship Semifinals. They’ll have had a two day break when they play again on Friday, after winning on Wednesday at the Orange Beach SportsPlex.
Benedictine’s goal broke a streak of three straight shutouts for SAU. It was just the seventh goal allowed by the Cougars all season – the fewest in the NAIA this year. Spring Arbor has recorded 16 shutouts on the season– the most in the country.
Balcer recorded her 30th goal of the season for SAU. This means she now has 128 career goals. She is in fifth place all-time i
n NAIA history. She also has now scored 23 career national tournament goals- and scored at least 30 goals in each of her four seasons at Spring Arbor.
The Cougars have claimed two national titles of late. SAU won it all in Orange Beach in 2015. The team finished 23-2-1 that year. They were the sixth seed and defeated first seed Lindsey Wilson in the national title match. They also won it all last season, finishing 24-1-1 and defeating Benedictine.
Spring Arbor will now square off with Keiser University. This is the semifinal round of the national tourney. The match will take place Friday at 1:00pm ET.
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