EUREKA, Ill. -- Thanks to first-career goals from Jocelyn Metcalf and Alayna Smith, the Sabercats and Head Coach Jarid Lawson have their first win of the 2024 season, taking home a 3-1 win at Eureka College this afternoon.

Faith Dargy added an insurance goal in the 85th minute to put the finishing touches on the win. Smith and Emily Wilson both registered assists on the day.*

OVERVIEW

• Result: Maranatha 3-1 Eureka
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Location: Watertown, Wis.
• Attendance: 79
• Record: MBU (1-2-0), EC (0-4-0) 

STORY
Metcalf's moment came in the 33rd minute, after Smith chased down a through ball on the right side of the Red Devils' penalty area. Smith stole the ball from a Eureka defender and sent it across the face of the goal, where it went untouched through traffic into the path of Metcalf. The junior made no mistake, placing the ball into the lower-right corner with her left foot to give the Sabercats the 1-0 advantage.

 

After going into the halftime break up 1-0, the Sabercats allowed Eureka to tie the game in the 57th minute, but Smith quickly tied it up just seven minutes later. The freshman collected the ball in midfield and made a 40-yard run through the Eureka back line before firing a shot at the goalkeeper that was too hot to handle. Smith's shot deflected off the keeper and bounced into the back of the net to restore the lead for Maranatha just like that.

The Red Devils pushed for the equalizer but two saves from Chloe Dodd kept the Red Devils at just one goal for the afternoon. Then with six minutes left, Emily Wilson sent a through ball behind the Eureka defense, where Dargy charged onto it before firing her shot low into the left-hand corner.

All in all, it was a day to remember, as a couple of first-collegiate goals and a first-collegiate win for Coach Lawson grabbed the headlines on a hot Illinois afternoon. With the win, the Sabercats turn their attention to Blackburn College and next Friday, pushing for their second NCAA DIII win in a row.

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Maranatha Starters: 0- Dodd, 3- Cansler, 4- Wilson, 5- Graham (C), 7- Smith, 8- Bishop, (C), 10- Byers, 11- Schroeder, 13- Schmidt (C), 15- Metcalf, 20- Herrera
*Match statistics were unofficial at the time this release was written

STATS

• Shot Count: Maranatha 12-15 Eureka
• Shots on goal: Maranatha 11-5 Eureka
• Metcalf, Smith: first career goals
• Dargy: third career goal
• Wilson: third career assist
• Series: This was the first meeting in the all-time series.

OPPONENTS

• Eureka competes in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NCAA Dlll)

NEXT

The Sabercats host Blackburn College - their second SLIAC opponent in a row - at 4:00 p.m. next Friday. Follow along at mbusabercats.com/schedule.