KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Mid-America Christian women's soccer team saw its season come to a tough end on Wednesday night as the No. 4 seed Evangels struggled to find an offensive rhythm against No. 3 seed Ottawa (Ariz.) in a 2-0 loss in the NCCAA National Championships Pool C finale at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex Wednesday night.
Mid-America Christian (14-6-1) could only muster 10 shots and put three on-goal against the stingy Ottawa (Ariz.) (15-7) defense.
The Spirit quickly got into an offensive rhythm as their first major scoring threat came in the sixth minute, but junior goalkeeper Jennifer Starwalt was able to make a solid save by pushing OUAZ forward Saipress Jones' high shot over the crossbar.
However, it wouldn't take long for Ottawa to get on the board as OUAZ's Grace Green made a phenomenal long range shot from the left side that hooked into the top right corner of the goal, just out of the reach of Starwalt to take the early 1-nil advantage.
It appeared the Spirit were going to add to their lead in the 19th minute, but Starwalt made a pair of phenomenal saves, deflecting Sarah Inufuka's shot off the post and immediately making a diving save on Cassidi Calzaretta's header off the rebound before the ball was safely cleared, keeping the score to 1-nil.
OUAZ outshot the Evangels 7-5 in the first half with a 6-2 edge in shots on-goal, but Starwalt's five saves were able to keep the match within striking distance.
However, Ottawa was able to expand its lead to two with a 67th minute goal and hold off all of the Evangels attacking threats to bring MACU's season to a close.
Despite giving up a pair of goals, Starwalt put together one of her finest performances in goal, tying a season-high 11 saves on an .867 save percentage.
Bayleigh Fink led the Evangels offensive attack, taking three of the 10 MACU shots in the match.
Mid-America Christian wrapped up one of the most successful seasons in program history as the Evangels 14th win against Erskine on Tuesday set the second-best wins mark in program history, placing only behind the Evangels 16-win season in 2010.
The Evangels put together one of the finest years on the offensive end of the pitch as well, finishing with a program record 75 goals with the second-most assists in a single year with 42. With her fifth game-winning goal of the season against Erskine, redshirt freshman midfielder Kyleigh Gibson tied MACU legends Brittney Stephens and Kaci Power for the second-most game-winning goals in a single season in program history.
It was a banner year for Starwalt in goal as well as her eight shutouts set the third-best single season mark in MACU history while logging 1801:31 minutes, the third-most in a single season in the program's history.
