ST. LOUIS –  In what was a battle for positioning in the upcoming Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament that will be hosted at Spartan Field, the Missouri Baptist University men's lacrosse team came up short on Friday evening in a heartbreaking 5-4 loss to Midland University.

Prior to the regular-season finale, the program celebrated five Spartans, who walked for Senior Night including Daniel Heinrich, Giuseppe Migliazzo, Ryan Hicks, Conner Jones, and Teddy Herold. Between the five, the seniors combined for 103 games played led by Migliazzo's 30 appearances and 29 career starts.

Friday's down-to-the-wire finish fell in line with the other previous meetings between the two teams, all of which had been decided in the fourth period. Missouri Baptist (2-9, 1-3 KCAC) is now 1-2 all-time against the Warriors.

Both teams jockeyed for scoring looks in the first quarter, but it was Midland that finally opened the scoring in the ninth minute on a extra-man opportunity goal. The Spartans sought to even the playing field and did so with a goal from one of the seniors. With a 1-on-1, attackman Ryan Hicks overpowered his defender and from 10 yards out put it in the top corner of the net to even the game at 1-1. Missouri Baptist and Midland went into the second period tied at one apiece.
 
Less than two minutes into the second, Hicks was at it again but this time blowing past two Midland defenders to score his second goal of the game. The Fulsom, Calif. native gave the Spartans their first lead of the game at 2-1. MBU's lead was short-lived as Midland answered at the 10:43 mark. The Warriors scored one more time before the halftime break.
 
With a 3-2 lead, MU seized the momentum out of halftime scoring twice in the first five minutes to go ahead by three. MBU halted the Warriors' momentum once and for all with goals from freshman Dylan Forbeck and junior Connor 
Hickman, both within two minutes of each other. Back to a one-goal margin, both teams buckled down on defense and all six of the Spartans' shots on goal were pulled in by Midland goalie CJ Salinas. Neither squad scored in a defensive battle in the fourth period.

MBU goalie Ashton Scott finished the night with eight saves.
  
The Spartans await the seeding for the KCAC Tournament following Midland's game with Saint Mary. The KCAC Conference Tournament will be played on Thursday and Saturday at Spartan Field with the semifinal games taking place at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.