EUGENE, Ore.  – It won't go down in the win column, but the Northwest Christian University women's soccer team played their most complete game of the season before falling to Rocky Mountain College on Friday evening, 1-0. NCU outshot the Bears 14-6 and allowed just two shots-on-goal, but one in the second half proved to be all RMC would need.
 
The Beacons took command early and finished the half with a 3-1 lead in shots-on-goal. Rocky keeper Lia Unterholzner, however, took command between the pipes with three big saves and the teams went into halftime in a scoreless tie.
 
NCU's lone mistake of the game came just seven minutes into the second half when Emily Browne slipped through the Beacon defense with a cross to Leah Hippauf. Hippauf fired home the eventual game-winner.
 
Head Coach Jessica Cardwell said, "Today we played a very heart-filled game. Effort was not an issue. The desire to win was not an issue. We had a small mental lapse and lackluster finishing inside of the 18 which resulted in our loss. We had our opportunities and we controlled the game yet we walk away without the win. Our girls deserve so much better after the way they played tonight."
 
The Beacons (1-9-1, 1-5 CCC) collected 14 shots including seven from freshman Sami Wilson (pictured). Wilson had half of NCU's six shots-on-goal as Unterholzner finished her shutout with six saves. "Sami worked so hard to create offense for us and to put us in a place where we could score," said Cardwell. She was regularly double or triple teamed but she kept battling."
 
Rocky Mountain (7-3-1, 5-1 CCC), currently receiving votes in the NAIA national coaches poll, jumps into a first-place tie in the Cascade Collegiate Conference with Eastern Oregon.
 
Northwest Christian returns to action on Saturday at 5:30 pm when they play host to The College of Idaho. Cardwell said, "I am very proud of my team and the effort they put forth today. There is no other group of young women that I would rather walk onto the pitch with. We will get this."