Late Goal Sinks Taylor in Top-20 Matchup against Spring Arbor

SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – The 19th-ranked Taylor University women's soccer team dropped a 1-0 heartbreaker to No. 14 Spring Arbor in Saturday's top-20 Crossroads League match.

SAU's Kayla Baar scored the decisive goal in the 86th minute on a counterattack following a Taylor free kick, finishing a breakaway run to snap a scoreless tie.

The Trojans (10-2-0, 2-2-0 CL), who were playing their third road match against a ranked opponent this season, controlled the opening half and created better chances. Kiana Siefert forced SAU goalkeeper Reagan Kohler into a save in the third minute, setting the tone for an aggressive first 45 minutes.

TU kept the pressure on through the half. Morgan Fletemeyer tested Kohler from distance in the 22nd minute, and Eliza Luttrell broke through the middle in the 24th minute with a left-footed strike that required a diving save. The Trojans earned three first-half corners to Spring Arbor's one but couldn't break through.

Maegen Hill had another decent chance for the Trojans before halftime. She pivoted in the middle of the box in the 43rd minute and delivered a strong shot that deflected off a defender.

Spring Arbor (7-1-4, 3-0-1) flipped the script after the break, putting the Trojans under immediate pressure. The Cougars fired four shots in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, but Taylor goalkeeper Brianna Rawlings answered the call with two saves to preserve the scoreless tie.

The match remained deadlocked into the final minutes despite Spring Arbor's territorial advantage. Rawlings made a diving stop to her left in the 85th minute from a shot inside the box, one of her two crucial second-half saves.

But Baar found the winner moments later, her fourth goal of the season, as the Cougars extended their unbeaten streak to eight games.

The Trojans were outshot 12-9, with nine of the Cougars' attempts posted in the second half. The hosts also held a slim 5-3 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams had three corner tries. Kohler made five saves for the Cougars, while Rawlings finished with two stops for the Trojans.

Taylor returns to action next Saturday when it hosts No. 3 Marian at Turner Stadium. The Knights improved to 12-0 after defeating No. 18 Grace, 2-0.