LANSING, Mich. -- Today was anything but easy, as the Sabercats fell 4-0 to the top-ranked team in the NCCAA DII, Great Lakes Christian.

The Crusaders scored twice in each half to seal the win, and Casey Conine was the undisputed player of the game, scoring all four goals for the top-ranked hosts.

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 0-4 No. 1 Great Lakes Christian
• Venue: Henderson Field, Great Lakes Christian College
• Location: Lansing, Mich.
• Attendance: -
• Record: MBU (1-5-1), GLCC (5-1-0)

STORY

The Sabercats' defense didn't budge for the first 40 minutes, but then the floodgates opened for Conine and the Crusaders. Conine scored the opener off a setup from Solara Sheldon, and then she promptly added a second goal within a minute.

Just before halftime, the flavor of the game had changed, and the Sabercats were down 2-0.

It took over 20 minutes of second-half play, but Conine basically repeated her first-half feat by scoring twice in quick succession. Ashley Owens and Elena Alvarado set up Conine for her hat-trick and her fourth, as the hard-working Crusaders rolled to the win on their home field.

At the other end of the field, Maranatha created chances through Makayla Willette, Jillian Brown, and the "newcomer", Kseniya Hassenplug, who all fired shots on target for the Blue and Gold. Hassenplug's contribution highlighted her first game with the team in the 2021 season.

The Sabercats are now left with less than 24 hours before their rematch with the #3-ranked Grace Christian University Tigers tomorrow near Grand Rapids, Michigan.

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MBU Starters: 1- L. Brown, 2- Mak. Willette, 5- Mal. Willette, 6- Warner, 7- Evans (C), 8- Bishop, 10- Hoffmann, 12- Moore (C), 13- Schmidt, 19- Steuerwald (C), 22- J. Brown

STATS

• Shot count: Maranatha 5-16 Great Lakes Christian
• Laura Brown: 176saves
• Hassenplug: first game since 2020 season
• Last time: Maranatha defeated Great Lakes 5-1 in their first-ever matchup in 2020
• Series: The series is now tied 1-1 

OPPONENTS

• Great Lakes Christian competes in the NCCAA DII in the Mideast Region
• Great Lakes Christian went 3-2-2 in its inaugural season for women's soccer in 2020

NEXT

The Sabercats stay in Michigan to take on Grace Christian for the second time this season tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. Eastern. Follow at mbusabercats.com/schedule.