WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – The No. 18 SCAD women's soccer team showed grit and composure on the road Saturday afternoon, earning a 1-1 draw against top-ranked Keiser University after a dramatic late equalizer from senior
Emily Lau.
The Bees (7-5-3, 3-1-2) went toe-to-toe with one of the top teams in the nation and battled back from an early deficit to secure a valuable point in Sun Conference play.
Keiser (11-2-1, 3-1-1) struck first in the ninth minute when Emilia Nilsson found the back of the net off a setup from Maria Vilhena. Despite the early goal, the Bees stayed organized defensively, limiting Keiser's attack to one goal despite facing 16 total shots.
Goalkeeper
Saga Bryntesson anchored the defense with four crucial saves—two of them in the closing moments—to keep the Bees within reach. Defenders
Emilia Irle,
Vera Wikstroem, and Mina Häggström worked tirelessly to contain Keiser's pressure, especially from wide areas and on set pieces, as the hosts earned eight corners throughout the match.
SCAD generated several quality looks in the first half, with Ida Åkesson and
Lovisa Henell each testing the Keiser keeper, but the Bees went into the break trailing 1-0.
In the second half, the Bees showed determination and belief, gradually pushing higher up the field in search of an equalizer. Their persistence paid off in the 87th minute when
Emily Lau stepped into space just outside the box and drilled a low strike inside the post to tie the match at 1-1. The goal was Lau's first of the season and capped off a strong performance in midfield.
Keiser continued to press in the final minutes, but Bryntesson made two late saves to secure the draw.
The Seahawks held a 16-7 edge in total shots, but SCAD's resilience and defensive structure proved the difference in earning a result against one of the NAIA's elite programs.
The match featured a physical tone throughout, with 27 total fouls and a yellow card shown to SCAD in the first half.
The Bees return home next week to host a key Sun Conference matchup as they look to carry their late-game momentum forward into the final stretch of the regular season.
