Box Score ST. LOUIS – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist used three first-half goals to defeat Harris-Stowe 3-1 Thursday afternoon in the team's conference home opener.
The win put the Spartans above .500 for the season at 5-4 and improved their record to 3-1 in conference play. The Hornets fell to 5-6 overall and 2-3 in conference.
Monica Robinson got the scoring started in the 15th minute. Morgan Mell played a beautiful ball past the Harris-Stowe defense and up to Robinson who was all alone. She beat the keeper on the 1v1 to put MBU ahead 1-0.
12 minutes later, Wilde added to the lead when she ripped a shot off Jenna Vitale's fingertips and into the net. The shot from just outside the box proved to be the eventual game-winner. It was Wilde's third on the season.
The Hornets had an answer, right when it seemed to be going MBU's way. A foul in the box set up a penalty kick for Tais Barbosa of Harris-Stowe. Barbosa rocketed the kick right past a diving Alex Lair and into the net. That brought the score to 2-1 and made things much more interesting.
Outside of the penalty kick, nothing else proved to be too threatening for Lair and the Spartans. Megan Allen then gave the team some breathing room with her goal in the 41st minute. Robinson connected with Cassandra Willhite on the left sideline, who then made a beautiful cross to a wide open Allen. The junior completed the play by knocking the ball past the keeper to put the Spartans ahead 3-1.
The second half didn't see a goal from either side. Mackenzie Hoelscher had a quality chance in the 77thminute, but Vitale was there to make the save. After all was said and done, Missouri Baptist came out on top 3-1.
Hoelscher, Mell and Riley Janvrin all recorded two shots to lead the way for MBU. The team continues conference play on Saturday against St. Louis College of Pharmacy at SLUH High School. The match is set for 5:00 pm.
