ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] The Missouri Baptist women's soccer team battled back, but were unable to complete a late comeback in a 3-2 loss to the Bethel University Wildcats Saturday afternoon.

The Spartans (0-4-0) found themselves in a 2-0 deficit after the first 45 minutes. Bethel (2-2-1) used an early goal and added another late in the half to take a two goal lead into the break.

Krista Klingenberg buried one past Spartan keeper Lizzie Kahn from outside the box in the fourth minute to give the Wildcats an early 1-0. The majority of the rest of the first half remained a back-and-forth battle with Missouri Baptist getting a few good looks at goal.

The Spartans best chance in the first half came in the 22^nd minute. Morgan Mell took a cross and fired one right toward the net before Bethel goalie Danielle Krzyzaniak swatted it away. The back-and-forth action continued until Joya Smith put the Wildcats up 2-0 in the 40^th minute.

Missouri Baptist came out the aggressors in the second half despite the early deficit. They controlled a majority of the final 45 minutes and outshot Bethel 7-5. One of those shots came from Megan Allen in the 53^rd minute the cut the Spartan deficit to 2-1.

The Missouri Baptist offense continued to fire in shots throughout the second half and capitalized yet again in the 72^nd minute. Morgan Mell headed a ball in off a free kick from Danielle Wilde to give the Spartans the equalizer.

The comeback eventually fell short. Bethel forward Melinda Sopka took a ball on the right side, worked her way to the middle and knocked it into the net to put Bethel up 3-2. The Spartans fired a few more shots, but couldn't net an equalizer in the final 14 minutes.

The Spartans have a week off before returning to action on September 19^th against Stephens College. The game will take place at CBC Field.