The UCA women’s soccer team went claw-to-claw with the Missouri State Bears on Sept. 1 in Springfield, Missouri, ultimately losing the game 3-0.
In the ninth minute, Junior forward Nina Mazzola took the first shot of the game, but the ball went too far on the right side, missing the goal.
A few minutes later, Missouri State senior forward Grace O’Keefe made a shot, positioning the ball in the lower center of the goal. However, senior goalkeeper Kajsa Pruner prevented Missouri State (2-2-1) from securing the goal.
Immediately after, Missouri State sophomore forward Lillie Rasmussen attempts to make a goal, but the shot goes left out of frame.
The next shot of the game was made by UCA senior forward Anna Kerr. Kerr managed to aim the ball in the lower left of the frame, but Missouri State sophomore goalkeeper Ella Becker blocked the UCA Bears’ (0-3) attempt to score.
In the 36th minute of the first period, Missouri State senior forward Eydis Helgadottir scores the first point of the game with assists from senior midfielder Kaeli Benedict and junior defender Maddie Schneiderhah.
Then, Schneiderhah made the last shot of the first period, lining the ball up with the bottom right of the goal. However, Pruner blocked Missouri State from gaining a second point in the first period.
Within the first three minutes of the second period, Missouri State sophomore forward/midfielder Reilly Heman made a goal with assists from senior forward Julia Kristensen and Kaeli Benedict.
Kristensen then attempted a shot that went left out of frame. This was followed by a shot from Missouri State freshman forward Maggie O’Keefe, which was blocked by a UCA team save.
In the 54th minute, Kristensen made the last point of the game with an assist from Benedict.
Heman attempted to score another goal for Missouri State, but it sailed over the goal.
The UCA Bears made more attempts to score a goal but were unable to get past the Missouri State defense.
Kerr attempted a shot in the bottom right of the goal but was blocked by Becker.
UCA junior goalkeeper Lenja Kenstel was subbed in for Pruner after halftime, and she made six saves — preventing the Missouri State Bears from getting further ahead.
According to Missouristatebears.com, this is the team’s 250th win in the program’s history.
Missouri State’s head coach Kirk Nelson told the university’s website that he was “excited to see that our high shot production that we’ve been having consistently, translates to multiple goals for us.”
UCA junior midfielder Lea Duus Madsen made a shot toward the end of the second period, but Missouri State blocked the goal attempt with a team save.
The women’s team was set to go up against the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Aug. 31. However, the game was suspended and postponed due to lightning.
The UCA Bears posted on X that they will “announce a date of resumption at a later time.”
After three away games, the Bears will have two home matches at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.
The team will go up against the Little Rock Trojans at 8 p.m. Sept. 5 and the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners at 1 p.m. Sept. 8.
The games will be streamed on ESPN+ and the play-by-plays will be available at ucasports.com.