MARYVILLE, Mo. — Talia Sanders scored early for Missouri Southern soccer, as the Lions battled to a 1-1 draw with Northwest Missouri Friday afternoon at Bearcat Pitch.
Missouri Southern is now 2-4-3 overall and 1-1-2 in MIAA conference play. Northwest Missouri State is 1-7-2 overall and 1-3-1 in league play.
Talia Sanders scored on her only shot and finished with two points. The goal marked her second of the season and sixth in her career at Southern.
Presley Whitmire recorded an assist and put her lone shot on goal.
Bella Smith made eight saves while playing all 90 minutes in goal. She now has 323 career saves as a Lion.
Samantha Glossup added a team-high two shots, including one on goal.
The Lions built early pressure with two corner kicks and a
Clarissa Davis shot on goal, then struck first when Sanders scored off Whitmire's assist at 3:29 for a 1-0 lead.
The Bearcats answered with pressure of their own, but Smith saved Julia Coacher's shot in the fifth minute and later stopped Jenna Lloyd at 20:07 as Missouri Southern held the advantage through a foul-heavy stretch that included a yellow card to Sanders.
Abbi Rosencutter gave the Lions another look in the 37th minute, sending a shot high and right, before Northwest Missouri State closed the half with additional chances.
Smith made three more saves after the 32nd minute, including stops on Lloyd, Emma Cook and Sadie Lilienthal, and Missouri Southern carried the 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Bearcats scored in the 51st minute, with Lillie Shaw finishing off a Coacher assist to even the match at 1-1.
Whitmire put the Lions' first shot of the second half on frame in the 53rd minute, but Leyah Scott saved it, and Smith answered with saves for Missouri Southern at 50:25, 63:39 and 68:39 as Northwest Missouri State pressed through the middle of the second half.
The Lions absorbed a stretch from 64:57 to 76:02 that included multiple Bearcats shots and corner kicks while the score stayed 1-1.
MSSU pushed late with Glossup putting a shot on goal at 78:10, Missouri Southern earning a corner at 80:13 and Glossup sending another attempt left at 85:56 before the contest ended with the match tied 1-1.
MSSU was outshot 14-6 but Smith recorded eight saves for the Lions over Friday's contest.
The Lions are unbeaten (1-0-1) over their last three MIAA matches.
Southern next heads to Missouri Western for a Sunday MIAA matchup. Kickoff is 1 p.m. in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Fall MSSU Athletic tickets are currently on sale
online. Fans can also purchase an
MIAA Network subscription to support Missouri Southern Athletics and catch all the Lions action this 2026-27 season.
