MARIETTA, Ga. – The academic break brought with it highs and lows for Missouri Baptist women's lacrosse. The Spartans yielded a win and a loss from its two-game spring break excursion, beating NCAA Division-II Shorter University (SU), 15-12, earlier in the week before a defeat to Life University (LU), 15-12.
 
The Spartans have played against five teams either ranked or receiving votes through the first six games of the season and gone 3-2 in those contests. MBU got some midweek praise ahead of its second game of the week on Thursday, slotting in at No. 6 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Top 10 poll. It is the highest that MoBap has ever been ranked in program history.
 
Missouri Baptist def. Shorter, 15-12
In game one of its Peach State road trip, MBU (4-1) notched its fourth straight win behind a comprehensive offensive effort. MoBap leapt out to a fast 5-0 lead on the Lady Hawks, capped off by senior Kamryn Bell's back-to-back goals (3:42, 7:44). Bell finished her first half hat trick with the opening goal of the second quarter (15:54).
 
The Spartans scored eight of the first nine goals before a three-goal run by SU ended the opening half hour of play and cut the MBU lead down to four. The Lady Hawks outscored MBU 4-2 in the third and got within a goal after a score to open the final quarter, but two-straight goals from Jordan Haeusser in quick succession (46:26, 46:50) turned things around in a momentous fourth period. Chayleb Deves finished off her fourth game in a row with at least three points or more, while Caroline Karr and Lydia Cornett got their second goals of the afternoon to seal the victory.
 
Bell led the line in points for the visitors with four, adding an assist to her three goals. Natalie Patrick continued her solid play with three draw controls from defense and a pair of caused turnovers to tie for the lead in that category with Haeusser. Goalkeepers Amelia Shaw and Alyssa Graebner split time once again. Shaw allowed just two goals and made four saves, while Graebner got the decision of a win on her record and stopped five Shorter shots.
 
No. 4 Life def. No. 6 Missouri Baptist, 15-12
MoBap ended up on the wrong side of the result against the Eagles, with the exact same scoreline of the Shorter game getting flipped against the Spartans. MBU fought to the end but couldn't muster enough offense to overcome the nationally seventh-ranked offense by goals per game (16.00) of LU.
 
The Spartans managed to stay competitive all throughout until a five-goal run to end the third quarter stamped a seven score period from Life. MBU went to the break with a 7-6 advantage, led by Cornett's first half hat trick. The 7-2 advantage in the 15 minutes following intermission proved to be the difference. Deves and Haeusser carried the scoring load in the second half, with three and two goals each, respectively. Deves' five goals were the most of any player, while the Eagles' Maria Arvizu recorded the game-high in points with seven (four goals, three assists).
 
Haeusser was again a defensive stalwart, causing five turnovers. Shaw had a total of 11 saves and tied for the visitors' lead in ground balls with Haeusser at three apiece.
 
Missouri Baptist stays on the road for its next action and will again go toe-to-toe with an NCAA Division-II foe in Lewisville University. It precedes MBU's first all-important Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference action against Ottawa University (RV). The Spartans will head out to face the Flyers on Thursday, Mar. 23rd. First draw is set for 3:00 PM from Romeoville, Ill.