JOPLIN, Mo. — Bella Smith became Missouri Southern's all-time career saves leader Wednesday as MSSU soccer (4-9-4, 3-6-3 MIAA) fell 4-0 to No. 20-ranked Central Missouri (13-1-4, 8-0-4 MIAA) at Hal Bodon Field.
Smith, a senior from Olathe, Kansas, played all 90 minutes in goal and recorded four saves to bring her career total to 336, moving her into first place in the MSSU record book. She surpassed Kaney Tyler, who recorded 335 saves from 2004-07, to establish the new program record.
Sophie Spoonmore led the Lions with eight shots and put three on goal.
Alexis Rodriguez added two shots, both on goal.
MSSU fell into a 2-0 hole in the first half after UCM scored in the 11th minute and again at 14:54. Southern still created looks throughout the half, with
Olivia Hermann, Rodriguez and Spoonmore each putting shots on goal that Kristen Wright saved.
Smith helped keep the margin there late, saving Maryn Clement's shot in the 42nd minute after Central Missouri earned two corner kicks during a stretch of pressure.
Presley Whitmire added a final attempt in the closing seconds, but the Lions went into halftime trailing 2-0.
Missouri Southern created several second-half chances while chasing the match, but the Jennies added goals at 65:00 and 88:18 and finished off a 4-0 result.
Earlier, Rodriguez forced a save in the 51st minute, Whitmire missed high in the 54th and Spoonmore put one shot on frame before sending another wide in the 62nd.
Smith kept MSSU within reach with second-half saves, including stops in the 53rd, 67th and 90th minutes. The Lions kept pushing late, as Spoonmore had two more attempts around shots from
Sam Ayala and a corner kick in the 88th minute, but Southern could not convert before UCM's final goal.
Missouri Southern matched the Jennies with 15 shots and put seven on goal but was held scoreless.
Olivia Hermann and
Mackenzie Poinier each added a shot on frame.
Southern generated nine shots in the second half and finished with two corner kicks, while Central Missouri had four corners.
The Lions committed 12 fouls to five for the Jennies.
Wednesday's match marked the conclusion of the regular season for Missouri Southern. The Lions finished the 2026 campaign with four victories, their most since the 2020-21 season, and three MIAA wins, their most since 2018.
