EUGENE, Ore. – It won’t go down in the win column, but the Northwest Christian University women’s soccer team played their most complete game of the season before falling to Rocky Mountain College on Friday evening, 1-0. NCU outshot the Bears 14-6 and allowed just two shots-on-goal, but one in the second half proved to be all RMC would need.
The Beacons took command early and finished the half with a 3-1 lead in shots-on-goal. Rocky keeper Lia Unterholzner, however, took command between the pipes with three big saves and the teams went into halftime in a scoreless tie.
NCU’s lone mistake of the game came just seven minutes into the second half when Emily Browne slipped through the Beacon defense with a cross to Leah Hippauf. Hippauf fired home the eventual game-winner.
The Beacons (1-9-1, 1-5 CCC) collected 14 shots including seven from freshman Sami Wilson. Wilson had half of NCU’s six shots-on-goal as Unterholzner finished her shutout with six saves.
Rocky Mountain (7-3-1, 5-1 CCC), currently receiving votes in the NAIA national coaches poll, jumps into a first-place tie in the Cascade Collegiate Conference with Eastern Oregon.
Northwest Christian returns to action on Saturday at 5:30 pm when they play host to The College of Idaho. Rocky hits the road for Salem to take on Corban University at 3 p.m.