Women's Soccer Falls Late to No. 21 Oklahoma Wesleyan

Siloam Springs, Ark., (Sept. 7, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College women's soccer team played a neutral site game in Siloam Springs, Ark., against No. 21 Oklahoma Wesleyan Saturday evening.  The Vikings came back from an early deficit to tie the game, but fell on a late goal by a 3-2 score.

Oklahoma Wesleyan got out in front early in the contest, scoring the opening goal in less than nine minutes of play.  The first quality chance created by Missouri Valley came midway through the half, when a shot from Senior Forward Ashley Arribas (Lake Forest, Calif.) hit off the post.  Sophomore Goalkeeper Marina Barbara Buajalance (Cornella Llobregat, Spain) needed to make a pair of saves just past the 32-minute mark to keep MVC at a one-goal deficit.  The Vikings were unable to find a goal late in the half, and went into the break trailing, 1-0.

The two teams traded possession early in the second half of play.  With nearly 10-minutes off the clock, Junior Defender Marta Carrasco Mesa (Sevilla, Spain) and Junior Defender Ana Rendon (Medellin, Colombia) teamed up to put Arribas in a scoring situation.  Arribas placed a header into the net, and tied the contest at 1-1.  Later in the half, near the 67-minute mark, Arribas again came close to scoring, sending a header off the crossbar.  A flurry of goals came late in the game, with Oklahoma Wesleyan regaining the lead with less than nine minutes remaining, to make it 2-1.  Moments after the restart, Junior Forward Marlene Flores (Bolivia) and Junior Midfielder Madi Hudson (Sandbach, England) assisted on a goal from Carrasco Mesa to tie the teams once again.  Oklahoma Wesleyan bounced back, and scored the game-winner with less than five minutes left to play.  Missouri Valley could not find the late equalizer, and fell by a final score of 3-2.

Carrasco Mesa finished with one goal and one assist, and now has two goals and one assist on the season.  Arribas scored her fifth goal this season, while Hudson, Flores and Rendon each added one assist.  Barbara Bujalance made two saves in goal.  Missouri Valley held a 12-11 edge in total shots.

The loss drops Missouri Valley to 3-3, while Oklahoma Wesleyan improves to 2-0-2.

Up next, the Viking women's soccer team opens play in the Heart of America Athletic Conference with a home game against Mount Mercy (Iowa), Sept. 14, at 1 p.m., inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.

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.

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