In a back-and-forth battle on Tuesday night, the Lady Bruins soccer team fell to the North Greenville University Crusaders 1-0.
Originally, BJU was scheduled to host the game, but the game was moved to NGU due to inclement weather.
Early on, neither team was able to create quality offensive opportunities. Lindsay Tuten, a speedy North Greenville striker, threatened to break through on several occasions, but the danger was quickly snuffed out by the Lady Bruins’ defense.
On the other end of the pitch, Mimi Lozano continued to skillfully create chances, but the Lady Crusaders defended well. Late in the first half, the Bruins began to possess the ball well, but a long shot from Spencer Martin bent just wide. Soon after, the whistle blew for halftime with the score still level at 0-0.
Coming out of halftime, the Crusaders quickly broke through the BJU defense. Strong defending by Meagan Hummel saved a goal. NGU’s Tuten ambitiously struck a ball from well beyond the penalty box that slammed into the crossbar, but ricocheted out. Motivated by the near goals, the Crusaders kept pressing. Tuten finally caught up to a through ball and struck the ball into the back of the net, putting NGU up 1-0.
The Lady Bruins, however, did not let up pressure. After skillful passing between Mimi Lozano and Natasha Walters, Walters took a left-footed shot that nearly equalized the game, but the Crusader keeper deftly pushed the ball over the crossbar.
On the other end, Tuten nearly recorded a second goal, but BJU’s Kristin Haertlein made a brilliant save to keep the game at 1-0. The Bruins pressed hard, but the game ended shortly after, dropping the Bruins to a 3-8 record this season.
Despite the loss, Coach Carmichael remained optimistic. “I was happy with how we played,” Carmichael said. “It was a back-and-forth match. I couldn’t have asked for anything more from my girls. I thought we played well. Our effort by all the players was really high.”
The Lady Bruins will need to continue that high level of effort this weekend, as they will play host for two home games at Alumni Stadium. Columbia International University will visit today at 6 p.m. and Toccoa Falls College face the Bruins Saturday at 4 p.m.
