4-1-1. That is the Missouri Southern women’s soccer team’s record in their past six games. This includes their last four of last season. Which they went 3-1-0 in. Their only loss deriving from the Tigers of Fort Hays State. That game would end in a 0-0 tie after two overtime periods, and the Lions would finally lose 11-10 after a marathon of penalty kicks. They have started this season 1-0-1 and won their last match. 

“They are starting to really take our culture in and believe in it. They say it all the time,” said head coach Chris McNaughton. “The first part is relentless effort, the second part is our unwavering mentality, and lastly its to be four units strong.”

In their most recent match the Lions were in Springfield, MO. taking on the Drury Panthers. The Lions had played the Panthers three times since 1999 and had not beaten them. Last Sunday the Lions would change that along with some other things. 

At the end of the first period the Lions showed signs of stellar defense, only allowing the Panthers to attempt one shot. The Lions had already taken 15 of their own. 

At the 55 minute mark of the game, just 10 minutes into the second period, the Lions got on the board when Meredith Belrose answered a yellow card on the Panthers after being sent in to take the penalty shot. Belrose sent it into the right corner of the goal. 

The Lions continued their lockdown defense and only allowed five more shot attempts the rest of the game, and only two shots on goal the entire game. Luz Galindo, Lions goalkeeper, had a pretty easy night at the office. 

At the 79 minute mark the Lions would add a second goal when junior forward, Jessica Edwards, blocked a clear-out attempt by Panthers goalkeeper, Sarah Franks, and sent the ball back towards the goal and in. That made the score 2-0 and  it would end that way. The Lions grabbed their first win of the season in match number two. Something they didn’t do last year until match nine against Northwest Missouri. 

The Lions also traveled to Kansas City, Mo. last Friday to face Rockhurst University, a team who beat the Lions 3-1 last year. 

The Lions had different thoughts heading into this years matchup. They were able to get a goal in the second half from senior Julia Liberty which tied it up at one a piece. Defense would hold strong and keep the score a tie, but the offense was unable to capitalize and the game would end knotted at 1-1. 

“We conceded the first goal, but I liked that we came out in the second half and got a quick goal, and didn’t tuck our tails and hide,” said McNaughton.

Up Next

Up next the Lions play host to Harding University tonight at 6 p.m. Harding enters play at 0-2-0. Both of their losses are against conference opponents of the Lions. The Thundering Herd lost to Emporia State 3-1, and to Missouri Western 2-1. Lions look to make HU 0-3 against the MIAA conference tonight. The Lions will be back in action Sunday at 1 p.m. in Ada, Okla. The Lions travel there to face East Central University.