ATCHISON, Kan. – The Missouri Baptist University women's lacrosse team is headed to its first-ever Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship final after defeating No. 2 seed St. Ambrose University on Thursday. Undoubtedly one of the most significant wins in program history, the third-seeded Spartans defeated (RV) St. Ambrose 12-10 in the nightcap at Legacy Field on the campus of Benedictine College.
 
With the victory, Missouri Baptist reached the 10-win plateau for just the second time as it improved to 10-2 overall. The Spartans handed SAU just its second loss of the season and eliminated the Fighting Bees from the single-elimination bracket.
 
"All week, we've been preaching about staying true to our style of play and keeping our minds focused," Missouri Baptist head women's lacrosse coach Max Ruhl said. "Tonight, we did that. We held our composure in a fistfight against a very quality team. I could not be prouder of our team and their ability to block out the noise."
 
Even though St. Ambrose got on the board first, the Spartans didn't panic. Missouri Baptist turned the game upside down, scoring the following six goals behind the potent offense of Ashley Avery, Jordan Haeusser, Chayleb Deves, and Kamryn Bell. The five-point cushion came in handy as the Bees battled back to within two before halftime.
 
Neither team scored in the first nine and ½ minutes out of the break. However, SAU's momentum did have heading into halftime, picked back up. Maddie Wiltrout, one of the Fighting Bees' top scoring threats, and Mackenzie Zions, teamed up for back-to-back goals to tie the game at 7-all with 19:25 remaining in the contest.
 
MBU's top scorers – Jordan Haeusser and Chayleb Deves – had different plans as they combined to score four goals in less than two minutes. Deves went on a scoring spree firing off three goals in a 1:24 span to put the Spartans ahead 11-7.
 
Making a valiant effort, including back-to-back goals with a player down, SAU's comeback bid fell short as the Spartans worked innovatively and efficiently after Ashley Avery's third goal of the game (7:59).
 
"Offensively, we wanted to use the clock as much as possible to play our tempo, and I believe we did just that," Ruhl said. "We landed quality shots and worked well off the ball to create those opportunities for ourselves."
 
While St. Ambrose out-shot the Spartans on Thursday, 39-25, MBU as a team had higher shots on goal percentage (72%-64%). The Spartans overcame a clear advantage for SAU in draw controls (18-6) and free-position shots (14-4) with stellar defensive execution.
 
"Our defense held its ground, and our senior captain [Kaitlin Mills' showed precisely why she was named KCAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year with her 15 saves and constant communication with teammates," Ruhl added.

All-KCAC Second Team selection Chayleb Deves led the team in goals with four, while teammate Jordan Haeusser also reached four points by way of two goals and two assists. Ashley Avery and Kamryn Bell rounded out the Spartans' scoring with two separate hat tricks.
 
With top-seeded Benedictine (Kan.) winning its semifinal, the Spartans are now set for the title game on Saturday beginning at 4:00 PM.