WARRIORS COMPETE TO VERY END AGAINST #7 SPRING ARBOR; FALL 5-2

WASHINGTON, Mich. - It was a highly physical battle between the Warriors (0-2-2) and the 7th-ranked Spring Arbor Cougars (2-1-0) on Wednesday afternoon, with the Cougars taking the game 5-2. The Warriors put up a fight for the entire game, going down to ten players midway through the second half while the game was tied. 

THE RUNDOWN

FIRST HALF

• Freshman goalkeeper Sabrina Kiryakoza started off a stellar game at the net for RCU with a save just minutes into the contest. On the other side of the pitch, defender Aliana Perez curved a ball perfectly on a corner kick to find forward Olivia Howes for a header to give Rochester Christian a 1-0 lead to begin the game. Perez was on point defensively, executing multiple perfect tackles to prevent the Cougars from advancing the ball
• The Cougars quickly found an emphatic answer, scoring two quick goals in under a minute, taking advantage of a breakaway opportunity after a Warriors miscue. Midfielder Kaylah Joyce nearly tied the game for the Warriors at the 20th minute with a shot on goal that was saved. Kiryakoza added another save before forward Laila Vanhoorelbeke nearly converted a chance to knot things up at 2-2

SECOND HALF

• Vanhoorelbeke saw another chance narrowly saved by the Cougars' Reagan Kohler two minutes into the second half but would find her golden opportunity moments later. Kiryakoza prevented Spring Arbor from jumping to a multi-goal advantage with another two saves. Storming down the other end of the field, the ball found Vanhoorelbeke during a scramble. The forward struck the ball into the back of the net to tie things up in front of a jumping Warrior crowd
• The Cougars amped up the offensive pressure, but Kiryakoza saved a corner kick header attempt to keep RCU in the game. Unfortunately for the Warriors, however, things changed in the 67th minute, with RCU being handed a red card for a denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity, placing the Warriors down one player. The Warriors continued to put up a strong fight, but Spring Arbor took advantage of the situation with multiple goals to put the game away despite the effort

STAT OF THE GAME

In two career starts, Kiryakoza has 12 saves. 

UP NEXT

The Warriors host #RV Olivet Nazarene at Warren De La Salle High School on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 3:30 p.m.

Hussein Murray - RCU Athletic Communications

Featured Image: Emma Fickel - RCU Athletics