NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Despite heavy rains and cold wind that swept through Spartan Field on Manchester University's campus Saturday, Oct. 18, the host Spartans and visiting Rose-Hulman put on a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference classic.

There were sparkling saves from goalkeeping counterparts senior Emily Willmann(Montpelier, Ind.) and Lucinda Combs, strong defense played on both ends of the pitch and offensive opportunities throughout the 93 minutes and 43 seconds. In the end, the 1-0 Rose-Hulman victory came down to a well-placed cross off the foot of Hayley Gilliam that found Kate DeMoss standing near the far post of MU's goal area. DeMoss headed it past a diving Willmann, who finished with five saves against an aggressive Fightin' Engineer offense, for the game-winning score.

MU out-shot their guests 19-15 overall and 9-6 in on-goal attempts. The Spartans (6-8 overall, 3-2 HCAC) received five offensive strikes from senior forward Katelyn Barta (Griffith, Ind.) with two that Combs had turn away, while the freshman duo of forward/midfielder Pfeiffer Neubert (Dearborn, Mich.) and midfielder Jenny Pudlo (Crown Point, Ind.) added three attempts each. Pudlo had two that were saved, while her third, coming in the waning moments of regulation, went just high over the upper left hand corner of the net.

MU, who stands fourth on the league standings, faces another pivotal loop contest Wednesday, Oct. 22. They travel to Anderson University for a 7 p.m. kickoff.