ATCHISON, Kan. – The Missouri Baptist University women's lacrosse team fell short of a conference championship on Saturday afternoon, running into the buzz saw that was top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Benedictine College (Kan.). With a decisive 23-3 victory, the Ravens ended the Spartans' impressive playoff run and captured a fourth consecutive KCAC Tournament title.
At 13-1, 10-0 KCAC, the Ravens' only loss this season is to NCAA DII Rockhurst University. Benedictine has now outscored opponents 287-24 during its current 13-game winning streak. The Spartans, which reached the 10-win plateau for the just second time in program history, dropped to 10-3 overall. Two of MBU's three losses were at Legacy Field against the KCAC powerhouse. MBU's other loss was in its season opener to an NCAA Division 2 opponent – Quincy University (L, 10-16).
In control from the start, the Ravens scored the game's first 15 goals behind a combined 10 from Aiden McEnerney and Clare Ryan. The Ravens put on an impressive display of passing, assisting in 13 of the 15 goals.
MBU sophomore
Kamryn Bell ended the Ravens' shutout bid in the first half's closing seconds. Bell evaded two BC defenders to score her 30
th of the season on a wrap-around goal with less than two seconds left on the running clock. The Spartans went into halftime trailing 15-1.
After the break, MoBap managed to get two more goals past Benedictine goalie Gianna Stalletti. Ten minutes into the second half, sophomore midfielder
Chayleb Deves drew a foul within the arc to land a free position opportunity. Deves successfully converted on the free position shot to reach 50 goals on the season. It marked her 13
th free position goal on 20 tries this spring.
The Spartans' third and final goal also came on a free position opportunity. Co-Defensive Player of the Year and All-KCAC First Team selection
Jordan Haeusser recorded her 12
th free position goal of the year and 46
th overall.
Veteran leader
Kaitlin Mills and underclassman
Amelia Shaw split time in goal on Saturday. Co-Defensive Player of the Year and All-KCAC First Team selection
Kaitlin Mills pulled in five saves in the first half while sophomore
Amelia Shaw snagged three saves. Defensively, Missouri Baptist caused four of Benedictine's 16 turnovers.
Sameera Hammad,
Caroline Karr,
Natalie Patrick, and
Jessica Scalise each had one CT apiece.
The host Ravens out-shot the Spartans 36-9 and 31-7 for shots on target on the afternoon. Leading to Benedictine's sizable shot margin was a 20-7 advantage in draw controls.
Jordan Haeusser accounted for five of the Spartans' seven draw controls.
Unranked heading into the KCAC Tournament, Saturday's loss likely ends the Spartans' banner season. The official announcement of the eight-team field and bracket for the inaugural NAIA Women's Lacrosse National Championship will be released Sunday on
NAIA.org at 3 p.m. (CST).
