WOMEN’S SOCCER

The HU women’s soccer team faced its third consecutive nationally ranked opponent on Wednesday night, dropping a 5-0 decision to No. 23 Spring Arbor at the Cougar Soccer Complex.

Spring Arbor (8-2-1, 2-1-0 CL) set the tone early in the first half behind Claire VanZanten, who proved to be the difference-maker in the attacking third. VanZanten opened the scoring in the 19th minute off an assist from Karly Miller (18:03) and doubled the Cougars’ lead just 92 seconds later in the 20th minute off a setup from Gracie Beld (19:35).

The Foresters (5-3-1, 0-3-0 CL) looked to respond early in the second half when senior forward Sophie Shepherd (Carmel, Ind.) put a shot on target in the 51st minute, but Cougar goalkeeper Mia Warner made the stop to preserve the clean sheet. VanZanten completed her hat trick shortly after in the 56th minute (55:50), once again assisted by Beld, giving the hosts a commanding 3-0 cushion.

Spring Arbor added two late insurance goals inside the final 12 minutes. Ava Unger found the back of the net in the 79th minute (78:46) and Claire Davis followed in the 81st minute (80:28), both assisted by Cadence Williams.

The shutout marked Spring Arbor’s eighth clean sheet of the season, a defensive unit that has conceded just six total goals across 11 matches this fall. The Cougars held a 20-3 advantage in total shots (11-1 in shots on goal).

Junior goalkeeper Macie Sanders took the loss in net for Huntington, recording six saves while allowing four goals across 78:48 of action. Freshman goalkeeper Breann Cory saw 11:12 of relief in net, allowing one goal on one shot on target.

Up Next
The Foresters continue their road gauntlet against top-tier Crossroads League competition on Saturday when they travel to Marion to take on No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan at 4:00 p.m.