COLUMBIA, Mo. – [BOX SCORE] Missouri Baptist women's soccer (7-4-3, 7-0-2 AMC) stunned No. 19 Columbia College (9-4-0, 7-1-0 AMC) 2-1 in double overtime on Saturday night on the road. Cassandra Willhite delivered the game-winning free kick to give MBU the victory and extend the Spartans' unbeaten streak to 10 games.
 
Recent history between Columbia and Missouri Baptist had certainly favored the home Cougars. The Spartans' last victory over their rival was back in 2013. So the No. 19 Cougars had to take notice when Missouri Baptist opened the scoring on Saturday night just two minutes and 31 seconds into the match. Miranda Pratt sent a cross into the box and Kaylyn Bigley provided the finish to give the Spartans' an ideal start.
 
Columbia steadied the ship after the early hiccup and controlled the play for much of the first half. They would eventually tie the match in the 14^th minute when CC junior Emma Laney fired home past MBU keeper Jemica Artillaga.
 
The match stayed all square into halftime and through the second half as well. While the Cougars had more possession, they were unable to put any shots on goal. The Spartans strong defense afforded them the opportunity to keep the match tied and extend the game into overtime.
 
With just under six minutes to go in the second sudden death period, Columbia committed a foul on the edge of their own penalty area and Cassandra Willhite stepped forward to take the free kick. The senior delivered a rocket into the far, upper corner of the net to give the Spartans their first win over the Cougars in five years. Willhite was mobbed by her teammates as Missouri Baptist moved into second place in the AMC with just three games left in the regular season.
 
"Going against Columbia is always one of our toughest games of the year…" noted MBU Head Coach Deno Merrick, "…but we came into this game expecting to win. We've been training for this and I'm really proud of the girls that they were able to seize the opportunity."  
 
Merrick also noted the importance of set pieces after the Spartans netted a game-winning goal off a free kick for the second time in three games.
 
"We are always working on those situations in training so that when we're faced with a key moment in a huge game, the girls know what to do. Casey [Gutting] executed it in the game against Harris-Stowe and tonight it was Cassie who stepped up."
 
With just three games remaining in the regular season, the Spartans (7-4-3, 7-0-2 AMC) are now in the driver's seat to claim one of the top two places in the American Midwest Conference. MBU has 23 points- just one behind Park at the top of the standings. The Spartans and Pirates will meet at Spartan Field on October 24.
 
Before Park, however, Missouri Baptist's next challenge will be Tuesday, October 16, in Henderson, Tenn. against Freed-Hardeman. Kickoff at the Josh Riley Soccer Complex is scheduled for 5 pm.