Grace Beats No. 2 Marian to Win Thrilling CL Tournament
Crossroads League Championships Central
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - For the first time in program history, Grace's women's soccer team can call itself the Crossroads League Tournament champions.
The Lancers got the better of No. 2 Marian, taking down the Knights in a memorable tournament championship.
Grace and Marian tied 1-1 after 110 minutes of regulation and overtimes, but the Lancers won the ensuing penalty kick shootout 6-5 to claim the tournament title.
As a result, Grace earned the Crossroads League's automatic bid to the 2025 NAIA National Championships.
On Friday night, the Lancers will find out their opponent, date and location of next week's NAIA opener. The NAIA's opening rounds are held Nov. 20-22. Grace is in a strong position to host an NAIA opening round match next week.
The first half saw a high-level battle across the field. But there were few shots to show for the 45 minutes.
Marian produced two shots in the half, including one that hit the crossbar in the 27th minute and another in the final minute that was saved by Ivy Cline.
Grace defended well, however, and kept the Knights off the scoreboard. The game was scoreless after the first 45 minutes.
Marian found the first tally in the 61st minute. The Knights had a long shot glance off the goalpost, and Marian cleaned up a scrum in the box by poking a shot into the net.
Grace quickly found a response, scoring just nine minutes later. Nora Pollock was fouled as she dribbled toward the penalty box, setting the Lancers up with a dangerous free kick.
Rosalie Gefrorer made good on the free kick opportunity, perfectly lofting her shot inside the upper corner of the net to tie the score 1-1.
Grace's confidence seemed to blossom after Gefrorer's goal. The Lancers began to implement their possession attack, putting pressure on Marian's back line.
The match increased in physicality as the teams pressed for a winner; the Knights committed five fouls with two yellow cards over the final 18 minutes of the second half.
But neither side could generate a clean shot attempt after Gefrorer's goal, and the teams ended regulation even at 1-1 to send the game into overtime.
In the first overtime, Grace continued its momentum. The Lancers took the only shot of the period, an attempt from Pollock that was saved. But the game remained deadlocked after the first 10-minute overtime.
The second overtime was much of the same; neither team earned a shot or corner kick, sending the match to a penalty kick shootout to decide a winner.
In the shootout, Marian took an early 2-1 advantage after the first two rounds of kicks.
Grace needed a defensive stop to catch up, and Cline delivered. Cline dove and denied Marian's fourth kick, allowing Grace to even up the score.
The teams remained tied after five kicks, sending the shootout to extra rounds. In the additional kicks, Cassidy Felger connected only to be matched by Marian.
The trophy was decided in the seventh round. Zoe Mueller slashed her shot cleanly into the net, and Marian's seventh try sailed above the crossbar.
Grace spilled onto the field in celebration, sending the Lancers home filled with championship memories.
Grace made six of seven from the penalty spot, while Marian made five of seven.
To earn the tournament title, Grace beat Bethel 1-0 in the quarterfinals, upset No. 6 Indiana Wesleyan (1-0) in the semifinals, and edged out the No. 2 Knights in a PK shootout.