ST. LOUIS – In the second half of Wednesday's match with Bellevue University, the Missouri Baptist University Women's Soccer team and their revamped lineup began to find their form. However, a penalty kick goal for the Bruins proved to be the difference as MBU dropped a 2-1 game to the visitors from Nebraska.
 
Due in part to injury and also looking to find an offensive spark, Spartans Head Coach Deno Merrick changed up his starting lineup. With starting defender Saige Stowers on the sideline in a boot, Merrick went a bit against conventional wisdom and moved another stalwart defender, Jamie Theusch, to midfield and into more of a facilitation role. Junior Maggie Evans got her first start of the season at forward, as she had shown signs of breaking out against Columbia College last Saturday. At least for the first half, it didn't appear that the change in personnel would supply the boost that Merrick was looking for.
 
The Bruins got the first goal of the game in the 32^nd minute on a nifty shot from Emma Madej. It was her team-leading ninth goal of the season. Bellevue's pressure on the Spartans defenders reeked havoc, resulting in turnovers for MoBap and opportunities galore for the visitors.
 
Despite the Bruins having the better of the run in the first half, Spartans graduate student Madi Dunahue was able to pull her team even with under nine minutes to play. Taking a free kick from about 20 yards from goal, the native of St. Charles, Mo. wrapped a low ball neatly around the left side of the side of the Bruins wall and past the goalkeeper. It was the first shot on goal in the game for the home squad. The tally was number two on the season for Dunahue and briefly gave MBU new life.
 
That momentum was very short-lived though. Just thirty seconds later a Bruins attacker was tripped up just inside the Spartans 18-yard box. Bruins defender Claudia Gallegos stepped up to take the penalty kick and she did not miss. Bellevue had regained the lead 2-1 with 8:04 remaining in the first half.
 
When the Spartans came out after the halftime break, they appeared to have renewed vigor. They held possession for most of the first ten minutes of the half but never seriously threatened. Still, it was evident the offense was starting to come together even if they were held off the scoreboard in the second half. The payoff from those changes it would appear will need to wait for at least another game.
 
On the night, Bellevue outshot MBU 17 to 5, and shots on goal were 10 to 3 in favor of the Bruins. Spartans' goalkeeper Gabby Mattli stopped eight of the 10 shots she faced, with one of the two goals coming on a PK.
 
With the loss, the Spartans are now 2-9 in a season in which they have played six teams that were ranked in the NAIA Top 25 or receiving votes at the time of the contest. MBU will be off until next Wednesday when they will get back into American Midwest Conference play. They will take the short trip to Harris-Stowe State University to face the Hornets. MoBap currently sits 1-1 against AMC opponents.