Fri, Aug 27, 2010 - [Women's Soccer]
Mistakes in the opening and closing five minutes of the game frustrated the Spring Arbor University women's soccer team and made for an exciting 3-2 decision over visiting Roberts Wesleayn College in the opening round of the Spring Arbor University Classic tournament today.

Spring Arbor started the game looking disorganized and Roberts was quick to make the Lady Cougars pay, as untidy play in the Spring Arbor back line led to a turnover and quick right-footed shot from RWC's Erica Ludke at the top of the box. Ludke's effort got over the top of a suprised Christina Riske and found the back of the Cougar net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the third minute of play.

The goal brought Spring Arbor to life and some of the best possession play of the year so far followed, as the Cougars knocked the ball in and out of the midfield and from flank to flank, but Roberts dug in at the top of their defensive third and condensed the space well in their own penalty area, making the going tough for the Lady Cougars in the attacking end.

Spring Arbor was able to knot the score shortly into the second half, as freshman Ashley DeNio scored her second goal in as many games, redirecting a Braydan Wiles pass in the box to beat the RWC keeper, setting up a tie game.

Enter Jessica Clarke.

Clarke put together what looked like the game winner in the 80th minute when she beat several Red Raiders at the top of the penalty area and unleashed a right footed bullet that found the back left corner of the Roberts Wesleyan net.

Spring Arbor continued to pressure for a few minutes after the goal, but seemed to sit back with about three minutes remaining in the match, and it was then that Roberts struck again, as a counter attack up the right side of the field ended with a low cross and a tap in at the back post with just 1:36 remaining.

Clarke was having none of it.

As the two teams entered overtime it was SAU who carried the play again. Seven minutes into the extra period freshman Karly Linton made a run up the right side of the field and served a ball into Clarke who rose above the crowd an snapped a header to the back post to end the contest with a golden goal.
 
Spring Arbor owned the stat sheet, posting a 25-10 bulge in shots on the day.