MARION, Ind. -- Indiana Wesleyan University and Spring Arbor (Mich.) University held their annual clash in women's soccer action on Tuesday night at Wildcat Field with much of the same results as previous contests.

Spring Arbor (8-1-1, 1-0-0 MCC) overcame an early one goal deficit to win the Mid-Central College Conference opener for both teams by a 2-1 margin. The last four matches, and five of the last six in the series, have been decided by one goal or shootouts.

"We're just a player or two short and a year or two short of experience," said Indiana Wesleyan head coach Dr. John Bratcher. "We had some people make some decisions that weren't the best because of experience. We could have gone inside with the ball or taken another touch or crossed it."

Indiana Wesleyan (5-5-0, 0-1-0 MCC) struck first on Tuesday with a goal in the 31st minute. Junior Kylie Dial snuck a 25-yard shot just between Spring Arbor keeper Brooklyn Morgan and the left goalpost.

No. 11-ranked Spring Arbor did not hesitate in tying the match. SAU responded in the 32nd minute on a very similar goal that IWU had scored only a minute and a half earlier. Maegan Smith launched a shot from about 25-yards out that beat IWU junior keeper Jamie Speidel over her head.

"You never want to leave No. 12 open and we did," added Bratcher.

Spring Arbor continued to pressure Indiana Wesleyan over the final 10 minutes of the half. The defense would hold as the teams entered intermission all knotted up at 1-1.

Less than two minutes into the second half, Spring Arbor forward Olivia Clark received a crossing pass from midfielder Braydan Wiles and beat Speidel to the far post in the 47th minute for a 2-1 advantage.

"Their second goal at the beginning of the second half started with a midfielder not going back on her player," Bratcher said. "We were flat on our feet."

The score remained 2-1 late into the half as Indiana Wesleyan revved up some opportunities over the final 10 minutes.

"They started dropping back and we tried to take advantage of it," stated Bratcher.

Despite just one shot in the second half, Indiana Wesleyan created some scoring opportunities in the Spring Arbor box but was continuously denied as SAU escaped Marion with the conference opening victory.

"It was really a battle of formations," continued Bratcher. "We started out kind of conservatively and immediately I pushed Kylie (Dial) higher and we basically played a 4-4-2. In the second half, when he switched a forward back, we went back to our normal formation. We did everything but put the ball into the net."

Indiana Wesleyan returns to the pitch this Saturday, October 1 for the annual Homecoming match. This year IWU will battle Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) University at 1 p.m. in the programs' first ever battle in Mid-Central College Conference play.