By Reagan Thomas · Staff Writer
The Grove City College women’s soccer team delivered under pressure last weekend at Don Lyle Field, earning its third consecutive PAC championship with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Waynesburg.
The win extended the Wolverines’ program-record shutout streak to 11 matches and secured an automatic berth in the NCAA Division III tournament.
From the opening whistle, Grove City showed its intent. Freshman forward Lauren Muhanna broke the deadlock in the 14th minute, slotting home her sixth goal of the season off an assist from sophomore Kiara White. That early strike proved decisive as the Wolverines leaned on their defensive strength to close out the match.
Junior goalkeeper Maddie Mills anchored the back line with 10 saves — just one shy of her career high — earning her eighth full shutout of the season. Mills admitted the final minutes were intense.
“For the last few minutes, I was locked in. I knew that if the ball came to me, I would have to do everything in my power to keep it out of the net. I was not about to let them tie it up, go into overtime and maybe even PKs,” Mills said.
Waynesburg entered the match with a conference-leading 69 goals on the season, but Grove City’s defense held firm. Mills credited the team’s collective effort for the historic streak.
“We have worked very hard, have great individual defenders and a strong possession game. But it also takes a good amount of luck to maintain a streak like this. Dumb goals happen all the time, goals that even the best keeper in the world could not stop. It is an amazing streak, but we are not playing to protect it; we are playing for our team vision and our goals for this season,” Mills said.
That vision is rooted in faith — a defining feature of the program’s culture. On the back of every jersey is “AO1”, a reminder that they play for an audience of One.
“I am playing for God, so it doesn’t matter who comes to my game, even in big games like these when the stands are packed. I love when a lot of people come, but I don’t let that make me nervous because I have nothing to prove and only God to please,” Mills said.
Junior defender Hannah Costa, a cornerstone of the back line, echoed that perspective.
“Winning to me personally is an amazing feeling. But playing with people I love and knowing I play for God and he gave me the ability to play soccer is such an amazing feeling,” Costa said.
Mills agreed, noting the trust and communication that define the unit.
“My defensive line and I are all united under the same goal, and our relationship is very close-knit. We have an understanding that if one of us makes a mistake, the others will cover, no matter what it takes,” she said.
Beyond tactics, Costa pointed to a tradition that reflects the team’s deeper purpose.
“A tradition that started last year that I love — especially when we go to the NCAA tournament — is sharing the gospel with the other team after the game. I think what helps our team to have success this year is trying to play in the freedom of joy and knowing we are not playing for ourselves but playing for God,” Costa said.
Costa offered advice for younger players hoping to make an impact. “Get out of your comfort zone. You may not like it at the moment, but it is so rewarding. Everything takes time — it does not happen instantly. You may have to go through rocky patches to see the reward. It’s all in God’s hands,” she shared.
With the win, Grove City improved to 13-4-2 and claimed its 10th all-time PAC title. The Wolverines will make their eighth NCAA tournament appearance.
The Wolverines will travel to Grand Rapids, Mich. to face Illinois Tech in the first round of the tournament at 1 p.m. today.
