Missouri Southern’s soccer team lost 3-1 last Friday night to the University of Central Missouri  Jennies and tied 1-1 Sunday afternoon with the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats.

“In one word, it was frustrating,” sophomore defender Samantha Zoltanski said after the game on Friday. “We should have played better.”

Under cold conditions, the team was only able to get five shots off.

Senior forward Megan Stueve made the only successful goal attempt, which resulted to her eighth for the season, with an assist by junior midfielder Tiffany Laughlin that tied the game at 1.

The Jennies would respond with another goal quickly before halftime. During the second half of the game,  Central Missouri was able to score another against the Lions, leaving the score at 3-1.

“We didn’t play our best game,” Stueve said.

“But we still came out and played well.”

Sunday afternoon, the Lions battled the Bearcats, beginning the game by scoring the first goal, getting the Lions  on the board.

 Stueve’s attempt to reach the back of the net was successful, recording her ninth goal for the season.

 The team led 1-0 at halftime and in the second half, the Bearcats answered back and scored a goal against the Lions, causing the game to go into overtime.

The Lions were strong on defense with Beth Hammons, junior goalkeeper, keeping the Bearcats from scoring at bay.

The game ended with a tie of 1-1.

“SBU is always a battle for us,” Stueve said. “We had a lot of close opportunities in the second half but weren’t able to put any of them away.”

The Lions take a break from conference play next weekend.

The following Friday, however, will travel to Southwestern Oklahoma to take on the Bulldogs in Weatherford, Okla. next Sunday at 1 p.m.

“Even though we have a small break we are still getting together to play and do some fitness stuff,” Stueve said. “We still have a lot of goals to reach.”

Head Coach Alese Woolard says that the team still has a lot of work to look forward to as well.

“Having a conference tournament makes every team fight till the end,” Woolard said.

“Once you make the conference tournament, then it really is anyone’s game.  This is a very difficult conference to be in and any team can win on any given day, so with the automatic qualifier coming out of the conference tournament there is a lot to keep playing for.”