No. 18 Grace sinks No. 20 Drovers in NAIA opener
BARTLESVILLE, Okla. – Grace’s women’s soccer team was victorious in its NAIA opener, defeating No. 20 Science and Arts (USAO) 3-2 on Thursday.
Marlene Menzel provided the role of hero in the match, scoring two goals including the game winner in the 80th minute to help the Lady Lancers improve to 13-4-2.
The win advances Grace to the NAIA Second Round on Saturday. The Lady Lancers will take on the host No. 6 Oklahoma Wesleyan on Saturday at 6 p.m. The winner will earn their spot to the NAIA’s final site in Orange Beach, Ala.
Grace is searching for its third trip to the NAIA’s final site after appearing in 2015 and 2019 under head coach Michael Voss.
The game’s first goal came with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Madison Tuma nearly scored first when her shot in the box was deflected wide.
On the ensuing corner kick, Grace scored. JJ Aalbue beat a defender on the left side of the field and crossed in front of goal. Marlene Menzel received the pass and calmly slotted her shot  into the back of the net.
The Lady Lancers continued to generate chances, taking seven shots with four on goal. Grace also had the only two corner kicks of the half.
The Lady Lancers took their 1-0 lead into the halftime break. The game still had four more goals to come over the next 45 minutes.
The Drovers found an equalizer in the 62nd minute. USAO countered quickly and lethally, scoring from outside the penalty box.
It did not take Grace long to regain the lead. Two minutes after conceding, Aalbue served a well-placed corner kick into the box. Lucy Schmitt connected with a header, pounding her shot inside the left post.
But again USAO proved to be resilient. Grace was whistled for a foul in the 18-yard box, and the Drovers capitalized by scoring the penalty kick with 18 minutes to play.
But Grace had the final say. Menzel scored again, sidestepped a defender and chopping her shot inside the far post to give the Lady Lancers their third lead of the match.
The Lady Lancers did well over the final 10 minutes, eliminating chances for the Drovers. Grace limited USAO to zero shots over the final 15 minutes of the match.
Sofia Lerro registered five shots to earn the win in goal for Grace.
Menzel shot a team-high five times with her two goals, and Aalbue shot four times and had two assists.
