JOPLIN, Mo. — Freshman
Sophie Spoonmore netted a goal as Missouri Southern soccer fell to No. 18-ranked Washburn 6-1 in the Lions' MIAA opener Friday evening at Hal Bodon Field.
Spoonmore tallied her team-leading second goal of the 2026 campaign in the 67th minute Friday. The Overland Park, Kansas, native, led the Lions with six shots, putting two on goal over the full 90 minutes.
MSSU recorded six shots and three corners during a second-half stretch from 68:14 to 73:42, but the push came with the deficit at 5-1 and was not enough to overcome Washburn.
Missouri Southern is now 1-4-1 overall and 0-1-0 in MIAA conference play. Washburn is 5-0-1 overall and 1-0-0 in league play.
Talia Sanders added three shots, including one on frame.
Millie Robshaw-Charlesworth made three saves over 45 minutes in goal over the second half.
The Lions absorbed early Washburn pressure and kept the match scoreless through the opening 10 minutes, including
Bella Smith's save on Brynn Allison at 10:16, before Washburn broke through at 10:45.
Washburn added goals at 12:12 and 16:24 to put Missouri Southern in a 3-0 hole, while
Presley Whitmire had a shot saved at 12:48 and Sanders followed with two attempts in the 19th minute.
The half turned more physical soon after, with MSSU whistled for two fouls and
Mackenzie Poinier shown a yellow card during a short stretch around the 20-minute mark.
Washburn scored again at 32:44 and 35:47, but the Lions continued to push late as
Alexis Rodriguez hit the right woodwork at 44:22. Southern went into halftime trailing 5-0.
Missouri Southern broke through in the 67th minute when Spoonmore scored at 66:50, making the score 5-1.
Earlier in the half,
Daniela Marquez forced a save in the 47th minute before the Lions earned a corner, and Robshaw-Charlesworth answered a Washburn shot with a save at 49:04.
MSSU continued to press with a Sanders shot saved at 52:26, back-to-back corners at 57:07 and 58:18, a Rodriguez shot saved at 58:45 and a Spoonmore attempt wide at 59:23.
After Spoonmore's goal, Southern recorded six shots and three corners from 68:14 to 73:42, including saved attempts by Marquez and Whitmire and additional looks for Spoonmore and
Abbi Rosencutter.
Washburn added a goal at 75:39, but Robshaw-Charlesworth made two late saves and Spoonmore put one more shot on frame before Washburn finished off a 6-1 result.
Smith made three saves over the opening 45 minutes for MSSU.
NEXT: MSSU next hits the road for a pair of MIAA contests. The Lions face Nebraska Kearney on Sept. 25 before heading to Fort Hays State on Sept. 27.
Fall Missouri Southern 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.
