WOMEN’S SOCCER

The Forester women’s soccer team turned in a gritty performance against one of the nation’s best Wednesday night at King Stadium, before ultimately falling 2-0 to #14 Spring Arbor.

The Cougars (6-1-4, 2-0-1) struck late in the first half to take a 1-0 lead and doubled their advantage just three minutes into the second frame. Despite the deficit, HU refused to back down, matching Spring Arbor’s intensity and continuing to battle to the final whistle.

Keeper Macie Sanders anchored the Forester defense with 11 saves on the night as Huntington weathered a 25-shot attack from the Cougars. The Foresters generated five shots of their own, including second-half looks from Jianna Simons, Sophie Shepherd, Jada Mia Lee and Maria Cote Molina that forced the Cougar keeper into action.

“This game we built our chances and proved we can play,” said Coach Keaton Albert. “It stings for sure with the investment we applied. But once again, what defines us isn’t the scoreline, it’s our responses. We just faced an opponent who made us 1% better.”

Albert went on to commend his team for their relentless belief. “It is clear that they are playing for more than themselves. We are choosing to grit it out and further search for the story God is writing. I saw players who kept running, kept pressing, kept communicating, kept fighting and kept applying to their best abilities for the entire 90 minutes. That says everything about this team’s character and desire to leave it all on the field. That effort matters. That grit matters. We aren’t wasting these moments or forgetting who we are but are choosing to define ourselves further.”

With this loss, Huntington drops to 5-5 overall and 0-3 in Crossroads League play. As part of HU’s homecoming festivities, the Foresters will host #7 Indiana Wesleyan at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.