ST. LOUIS – For the second time in a week the Missouri Baptist University Women's Soccer team earned a one-sided win over Central Baptist College, only this time the win will launch them into the AMC Tournament Semifinals. Six different Spartans scored as fourth-seeded MBU beat the shorthanded Mustangs 8-0 at Spartan Field on Friday night.
The Spartans proved better in almost every statistical category, including having a 28 to two advantage in shots, and a 12 to one edge in shots on goal.
Despite the statistical dominance, the home team didn't gain a two goal lead until there was just over 15 minutes left to go in the first half.
Spartans' leading goal-scorer on the season,
Skylar Hollingshead, got MBU off to a good start by scoring the first of two goals she would have on the night in the 11
th minute. She would get her second at almost the identical mark of the second half, giving her 10 goals on the season. Earlier in the day the native of Lake Saint Louis, Mo. was named as AMC All-Conference First-Team.
Freshman
Gabbie Wood scored in the 39
th minute to make the score just 2-0 for the Spartans. The goal was the second of the season for Wood. Fellow freshman
AnnaRose Eldred added to the lead with her first goal of the season just a minute and three seconds later. By that point the end result was already coming into focus as the Mustangs, who had traveled and dressed only 11 players, had lost a defender and were competing with 10 on the field. Earlier in the game, another Mustang had been injured but returned to the game albeit in a compromised and hobbled condition.
The Spartans poured it on in the second half as CBC understandably began to wear down. Hollingshead's second goal made the score 4-0. A couple of quick scoring barrages later in the half truly put the game out of reach, as
Gianna Gore and
Maddie Mrazik scored 35 seconds apart in the 66
th minute to give MBU a 6-0 lead.
Wood connected on her second of the game with under seven minutes remaining, then
Skyla Koch continued her late-season scoring touch just a minute and 13 seconds later to finish out the scoring.
Prior to the last two goals, CBC lost their most-impressive forward, AMC All-Conference Forward Vitoria Loiola, on account of two yellow cards. She led CBC with 12 goals on the year. The Mustangs played the final 8:14 with just nine players, and due to their low numbers did not have a single substitution in the match.
In the past six days the Spartans have outscored the Mustangs 12-0 in winning two games. MBU seems to be hitting their stride and gaining confidence at the same time as they are now unbeaten in their last five games while outscoring their opponents 21 to two. However, the path does get a little tougher. With Friday's victory, the Spartans in a berth in the AMC Tournament Semifinals. On Monday they will travel to Columbia, Mo. to take on the top-seeded Columbia Cougars. CC won the regular-season matchup 4-0 at Spartan Field on September 30.
