MARYVILLE, Mo. — The Northwest Missouri State University women's soccer team clawed back to earn a 1-1 tie against the Missouri Southern Lions Friday at the Bearcat Pitch.
Northwest honored seven Bearcats during its Senior Day festivities at halftime.
The Bearcats are 1-7-2 overall and 1-3-1 in MIAA play. The Lions are 2-4-3 overall and 1-1-2 in league action.
Northwest put nine of its 14 shots on goal and held MSSU to four shots on goal on six attempts.
Northwest faced an early deficit after
Leyah Scott saved a shot in the third minute and the Lions went ahead at 3:29 on Talia Sanders' goal off Presley Whitmire's assist. The Bearcats answered with sustained first-half pressure, earning a corner at 4:18, forcing Bella Smith to save
Julia Coacher's shot at 4:50 and adding two more corners at 8:55 after
Jenna Lloyd missed left. Northwest kept creating chances through a physical stretch, with
Brooke Bellehumeur shooting high in the 16th minute and Lloyd putting another shot on frame at 20:07. After
Ximena Arnau's yellow card at 21:29, Northwest added a 32nd-minute corner and another Lloyd shot saved by Smith, then closed the half with
Emma Cook and
Sadie Lilienthal forcing saves in the final three minutes. Despite outshooting MSSU 7-3 and earning five corners in the half, Northwest went into halftime trailing 1-0.
Lillie Shaw brought Northwest level in the 51st minute, finishing off Coacher's assist to tie the match at 1-1. Northwest followed with immediate pressure, including a
Lydia McVey shot that Bella Smith saved, while Scott answered with a save on Presley Whitmire at the other end. After a physical stretch of fouls, Northwest generated four shots and two corners from 63:39 to 68:48, with
Norah Oyler and Arnau each putting attempts on frame that Smith stopped. Northwest continued to push late with
Rachel Davis taking a shot and the home side earning corners in the 79th and 85th minutes, but the second half ended with the match tied 1-1.
Shaw scored Northwest's goal, converting her only shot on frame and finishing with two points. Coacher recorded the assist and put her lone shot on goal. Lloyd led Northwest with three shots, including two on goal. Scott played all 90 minutes in goal and made three saves.
Northwest will return to the Bearcat Pitch Sunday at 1 p.m. to take on the Central Missouri Jennies. Sunday is a Pink Out match.
Up next, Northwest soccer team hosts Central Missouri at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, in Maryville, Mo.
