Orange Beach, Ala. - The undefeated season for the Marian women's soccer team came to a close on Monday afternoon in Orange Beach, Alabama, as the Knights were defeated 1-0 against No. 4 Spring Arbor. Marian's loss to their Crossroads League rival finishes their season with a 21-1-2 overall record, along with a Crossroads League Regular Season Championship.
Both teams played even in possession in the first six minutes of the game with the Cougars taking the first shot attempt, but Marian quickly responded with their first shot attempt coming from Erin Oleksak. Spring Arbor countered with possession in the 10th minute after the Oleksak shot, and quickly drove the field with Ariana Stoltzfus attacking from the left side. Stoltzfus drove a ball on the box for an attacking Madalyn Freitas, who struck the first goal of the game past the outstretched arms of Noelle Rolfsen.
Falling behind for the first time all season, Marian looked to respond as Oleksak drove a pass through the box for Lindsey Stoughton, but the junior's header in the 10th minute went high. Spring Arbor took over possession and controlled the pace for the next 10 minutes, earning four corner kicks while four different strikers managed a shot attempt. Rolfsen made two saves in the flurry to keep the match a one-score contest. Marian responded in the 27th minute with Oleksak drawing a shot, and after winning a corner Isabelle Stanfield attempted to head down the equalizer, but the shot landed in Blair Currie's hands.
The Knights were able to get one final chance in the 45th minute against Spring Abor, but ran out of time attempting to set up a final corner kick as they entered the break trailing 1-0. Spring Arbor led at the break with five corners to Marian's two, while also holding a 7-5 advantage in shot attempts.
Marian changed their strategy in the second half, and came out with a stronger attack as Oleksak took an attempt in the opening five minutes. The Knights blocked a Spring Arbor shot from Mackenzie Selvius after the Cougars' striker had a close look on frame, with the defense holding the score at 1-0. The offense ramped up again in the 63rd minute as Oleksak tried to connect with Smith, but the senior duo couldn't put away the equalizer as Smith's shot went high.
In the 71st minute the offense made another charge with Smith taking two shots on goal within 60 seconds, but neither of her attempts were able to get past Currie as the Cougars netminder made two saves. Oleksak followed with a shot on goal that landed in the hands of Currie moments later, and in the 85th minute the senior charged again with a shot that was blocked by the Cougars backline. Marian put two chances together in the final minutes with a header coming from Stanfield off a corner and a long blast from Oleksak, but neither look was true, as time ran out for Marian to score a tying goal.
The Knights finished the match with a 14-11 advantage in shots, with each team taking four tries on target. Marian finished the match leading 7-6 on corners, and in defeat Oleksak took a match-high seven shots. Smith had two of Marian's four shots on target, and in goal Rolfsen made three saves.
After the match, Erin Oleksak was named the Most Outstanding Offensive Player of the 2022 NAIA Women's Soccer National Tournament, and Naomi Walters was named to the All-Tournament Team.
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