Statesmen Narrowly Miss Upset of Missouri Valley

Oskaloosa--The William Penn women's soccer team came up short on Homecoming at Drost Field, falling to #13 Missouri Valley 2-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Saturday.

The Statesmen (2-6-1, 2-3-1 Heart), who despite being outshot 17-6 by the Vikings (6-2-2, 3-1-1 Heart), were mere minutes away from earning a tie against their ranked foe.

Both teams played solid defense to start the game, but the visitors finally got on the board in the 36th minute and the 1-0 margin held into halftime.

Still down one goal midway through the second period, the navy and gold had a few golden chances. Mia Ammons (Fr., Black Diamond, Wash., Business Management) was denied on a point-blank shot, but eventually helped get the home team draw even.

She slotted a ball just outside the penalty box and Sian Bah (Fr., London, England, Political Science) ran up on it. Bah immediately delivered a shot, which was blocked off her foot, but then collected the rebound and drilled a try past the MVC goalkeeper to make it 1-1 in the 66th minute.

A few minutes later, Ammons was on the receiving end of a beautiful cross into the box from Lilly Cote (Fr., Sioux City, Iowa). She put a head on the pass and the ball appeared to clear the goal line before the keeper nabbed possession, but the referees did not see it the same way, keeping the contest tied.

William Penn weathered several scoring 'storms' in the second half, but unfortunately could not keep the Vikings out of the goal as the visitors finally managed to find the net with the eventual game-winner in the 86th minute.

Bah guided the WPU offense with three shots, while Ammons added two of her own. Madeline Danielson (So., La Crescent, Minn., Exercise Science) had six saves in the loss.

Next Up: William Penn will remain in Oskaloosa next Tuesday to host Grand View in Heart play at 5 p.m.