SEARCY, Ark. – The Missouri Western soccer team (1-1) bounced back Sunday with a 2-1 win at Harding (0-2) to split its two games at the GAC-MIAA Challenge.

Tempo had swung Harding’s way late in the first half until Ashley Mathis gave the Griffons their first goal of the season in the 42nd minute on an assist from Sara Collins. After Collins stole the ball from a defender at the goal line, she got it to Mathis for the 1-0 lead just minutes after both Griffons had entered the game. The momentum swing in Missouri Western’s favor played through halftime.

Just 2:39 in to the second half, Cassidy Menke padded her Missouri Western career goals lead with an unassisted goal through the middle of the Harding defense in the 48th minute. Menke’s 25th career goal turned into the game winner after Harding scored on a penalty kick in the 67th minute.

After being out-shot 14-5 in the first half, the Griffons took nine shots in the second, four on goal and held Harding to nine. Menke had three of the team’s shots, just the one on goal. Kelsey Roe took a pair and looked to have scored MWSU’s third goal of the game off a Mackenzie O’Neill corner kick in the 86th minute. Roe got a shot past the Harding goal keeper that was blocked right at the line by a Lady Bisons defender.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western goes north next weekend for a pair of games in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The Griffons play at Augustana (0-1-1) on Friday, Sept. 7 and at Sioux Falls (0-1) on Sunday, Sept. 9.

— MWSU Athletics —