Cougars Punch Ticket to Championship with Late Comeback Win Over Grace

WINONA LAKE, Ind. – The Spring Arbor University men's soccer team will play for a conference title after rallying late to defeat the tournament's No. 2-seed Grace College 2-1 in the Crossroads League Tournament Semifinal round on Saturday.

The No. 6-seeded Cougars trailed 1-0 in the closing moments of the match but scored two goals in the final four minutes to storm back and punch their ticket to the championship match.

THE BASICS

SCORE: Spring Arbor 2, Grace 1

LOCATION: Winona Lake, Ind.

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 11-6-3, Grace 8-8-2

MATCH NOTES

• After a scoreless first half, Grace broke the deadlock in the 62nd minute with a goal from Daniel Santos Rosa.
• With their backs against the wall, the Cougars showed their resilience scoring twice in the final four minutes to advance to the tournament championship. Aiden Messinger had the equalizer in the 86th minute, slipping a low shot through the Lancer defense. Then, with less than a minute remaining in regulation, Josh Madery delivered the game-winner. Grace failed to clear, and a scramble ensued in the box with the ball eventually landing at the foot of Madery, who was able to find the back of the net.
• Spring Arbor outshot Grace 11-7 and earned eight corners compared to the Lancers' one.
• Goalkeeper Jack Cristini made two saves on the night.

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor, looking for its first Crossroads League Tournament title since 2020, is set to face Marian University (14-3-3, 5-2-2 CL), the tournament's No. 4-seed, in the championship match on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. in Indianapolis. 

The winner will receive the league's automatic bid to the 2024 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship.