Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern soccer program battled #19 Minnesota State – Mankato to a 3-1 loss inside Hal Bodon Field this evening with
Ella Durocher scoring.
The Lions (0-1) were led by Durocher with her first goal of the season and fifth of her career while
Ashley Koepp provided the assist and along with
Mackenzie Scholtz was tied for the team-high with four shots.
Riley Laver went the distance in goal and had eight saves.
The Mavericks (1-0) had three different goal scorers and Jenny Vetter got off nine shots with three being on goal. Mackenzie Rath went the distance in goal and collected two saves.
In the first half the Lions came out and owned possession and the flow of the game for the first 10 minutes working their way into attacking areas and causing problems for the Mavericks defense. The first goal of the game came against the run of play with Addison Clarey scoring in the 21st minute with Brynn Desens picking up the assist.
That scoreline did not stay that way for long as
Ella Durocher stole the ball high in the opposing half before passing to
Ashley Koepp who then free Durocher with a through ball and shot the ball right past the keeper for the tying goal (1-1) in the 22nd minute.
Mankato would go into the half up 2-1 after Maille Mathis scored in the 39th minute and going into the half the stat line for the teams were close. The Mavericks held the advantage with 13-11 shots but also committed more fouls 9-7 in the first half.
After the sun went down in the second half the play started to get more physical with a yellow card shown to one player on both teams and 50-50 balls being challenged harder by both sides. Southern kept the Mavericks on their toes in the second half with some halftime changes but could not ultimately find another goal in the half with the final score being 3-1 after the Mavs got a goal in the 80th minute.
Southern is back in action on Sunday August 28th in Rolla, Mo. as they will play the Miners of Missouri S&T at Allgood-Bailey Stadium with kickoff set for noon.
