ST. LOUIS—MBU Women's Soccer started slow on Wednesday night against (RV) Missouri Valley College and never fully recovered in a 3-1 defeat. The Vikings used three first half goals and locked things down defensively to hold the Spartans off.
 
MVC's Lauren Castano Cardoso opened the scoring in the ninth minute with a shot that MBU keeper Jemica Artillaga had little chance of stopping. Paula Inclan doubled the lead in the 23^rd minute and netted a second goal seven minutes later to put the Spartans in a deep hole.
 
There was, however, a glimpse of hope for MBU three minutes before halftime. Kaylyn Bigley won a footrace down the right side and lifted a cross into the box for Casey Gutting. Gutting maneuvered to open space and managed to get a shot off that it found its way past Vikings' keeper Summer Budaj and into the lower corner of the net.
 
The Spartans seemed to settle in defensively in the second half but struggled to generate offense against a stout Missouri Valley back line. The game would finish at 3-1 as MBU fell to 0-1 on the season.
 
Junior Jemica Artillaga was strong in net for the Spartans. The native of Sydney, Australia made 10 saves to keep the match close.
 
The Spartans will be back in action on Saturday against (RV) Trinity Christian (Ill.). Kickoff in Palos Heights, Ill. is set for 4:30 pm.