Women's Lacrosse Drops Final Game to Culver-Stockton

Marshall, Mo., (April 13, 2024)-  The Missouri Valley College women's lacrosse team hosted Culver-Stockton (Mo.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference match Saturday afternoon inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.  The Vikings played close, but the Wildcats pulled away late as Missouri Valley fell, 14-6, to close the season.

Culver-Stockton quick went in front at the start of the game, scoring the opening goal with less than one minute played.  The two teams traded possession over the next stretch.  Freshman Attack Atleigh Lark (Alma, Mo.) had a free-position chance saved, while Junior Goalkeeper Melissa Sandoval (Weiser, Idaho) saved her first shot of the contest with just over four minutes off the clock.  The Wildcats eventually held possession in the offensive side of the field, and scored close to the eight-minute mark to put the team's lead to 2-0.  Later in the first quarter, Missouri Valley created another chance, this time Sophomore Midfielder Hailey Harmon (Bonne Terre, Mo.) set up Junior Midfielder Allexis Lark (Alma, Mo.), and Lark scored to cut the gap to 2-1 with just over two minutes remaining.  Culver-Stockton responded after the ensuing draw, and tacked on another goal just over one minute later to hold a 3-1 advantage going into the second quarter.

An early turnover created by Atleight Lark set up MVC towards the Wildcat goal.  Atleigh Lark assisted on a goal from Allexis Lark less than one minute into play, and the deficit shrank to 3-2.  Sandoval came up with her first save of the quarter less than two minutes later, and both teams had opportunities on goal.  The Wildcats eventually increased their lead, scoring with just over nine minutes to play in the half.  Missouri Valley responded, and collected the draw.  Culver-Stockton was down one player following a green card, and Missouri Valley took advantage.  Atleigh Lark set up Freshman Midfielder Hailey Davis (Maryville, Tenn.) with a shot, and Davis scored to bring the team back to 4-3 just past the nine-minute mark.  The Wildcats scored again just over two minutes later, but Davis tacked on another goal, off an assist from Freshman Attack Rose Szymanski (Southampton, England) to make it a 5-4 score with under five minutes remaining.  In the closing moments of the half, CSC scored again, and went into the break ahead, 6-4.

The third quarter started with possession traded between the two teams through the midway point of the half.  Culver-Stockton added two quickly goals at that point, and built up an 8-4 lead.  Another goal by CSC made it a 9-4 deficit at the five-minute mark.  Missouri Valley worked back nearly three minutes later, as Davis assisted on a Senior Defender Tyra McKenzie (Nassau, Bahamas) goal, but the Wildcats added one more before the end of the quarter to stay in front, 10-5.  The opening goal of the fourth quarter came nearly two minutes into play, as Davis scored on a free-position chance to cut the deficit down to 10-6.  Culver-Stockton pulled away from there, adding four more goals in the final seven minutes of play to defeat the Vikings, 14-6.

Davis led with three goals and one assist, while Allexis Lark had two goals.  McKenzie added one goal, and Atleight Lark led with two assists.  Sandoval made five saves in goal.  Missouri Valley forced 26 turnovers and came up with 18 total ground balls.

The loss brings an end to the Missouri Valley season at 2-7 overall and 1-4 in the Heart.  Culver-Stockton improves to 6-6 on the season and 3-2 in the conference.

Box Score-Click Here

ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.