ST. LOUIS – Missouri Baptist allowed a goal in the 15th minute on a free kick by Greg McCrudden, which proved to be the difference against Culver-Stockton (Mo.). The Spartans allowed another goal in the 63rd minute as they dropped their second game of 2017, 4-0, on Wednesday.
Missouri Baptist (1-2) struggled mightily in the second half on Wednesday after a pair of Spartan ejections late in the first helped the Wildcats maintain their momentum throughout.
Gerardo Espinoza had some early opportunities in the game's opening minutes, but it was McCrudden's goal that did the damage. The senior from Eyemouth, Scotland notched the first Wildcat foal of the season on a free kick to give his team the advantage.
Culver-Stockton maintained that lead throughout the game and added to it in the 63rd minute. Freshman William Mansfield posted the insurance goal, the first of his collegiate career, to give his team a 2-0 lead.
The Spartans played the final 47 minutes and change down two men as Rafael Rangel and Eduardo Mendes-Maia were issued red cards late in the 43rd minute of the contest.
Down the stretch, however, Spartan keeper Samuel Whittington kept his composure and made several key saves to keep the score in check. The freshman keeper from Leeds, England recorded seven saves, including an acrobatic, diving save on Mackenzie Northern in the 55th minute.
Northern, however, found revenge in the 87th and 88th minute with a pair of late goals to extend the Wildcat lead to 4-0.
With the loss, the Spartans will look to even their record on Labor Day when they welcome Martin Methodist (Tenn.) to St. Louis. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at Spartan Field.
