OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – For the second time in as many games this season, the Missouri Baptist Women's Soccer team held a halftime lead. This time they closed the deal, downing Oklahoma City University 3-0, largely in part to a couple of graduate students who broke long goal-scoring droughts.
 
Senior Abby Layton, a recent transfer from East Central College, dented the net first in the 37^th minute when she took a pass from Madi Dunahue and drove a ball with her right foot past the Stars keeper to put MBU up 1-0. It was the first goal of Layton's MBU career and the first assist of the season for Dunahue, who lead the Spartans with six helpers last season.
 
Two nights ago, in the same city of OKC, MBU saw a one-goal lead at halftime slip away. Grad students Maddie Mrazik and Morgan Hollenbeck made sure that didn't happen again.
 
First, Mrazik converted on a penalty kick in the 60^th minute to put MBU up 2-0. It was the first goal for the St. Peters native since October 13, 2021, against Hannibal-LaGrange University. Mrazik appeared in only seven games last season as she was forced into medical retirement. Fortunately for MBU, she seems to be a force once again on the pitch.
 
Not to be outdone, Hollenbeck added a tally of her own in the 82^nd minute to virtually put the game away. Freshman Paige Rice was credited with the assist, her first of her collegiate career. For Hollenbeck it was also her first goal as a Spartan, in her second season. The Eureka, Mo. native is no stranger to scoring goals though as she had three in her career at McKendree University before bringing her talents to MBU.
 
MBU goalkeeper Gabby Mattli was called upon to make five saves in the game, all in the second half, to keep the first clean sheet of the year for the Spartans.
 
MoBap was outshot 11 to 6 in the game. OCU also held the advantage in corner kicks at four to one.
 
Next up for the Spartans is a trip north to Canton, Mo. next Saturday to face Culver-Stockton College. That tilt is slated to get underway at 1:00 p.m.