ST. LOUIS – Playing their first home game of the 2023 season the Missouri Baptist Spartans were hoping a change to familiar scenery would bring about a change in recent results. But a late first half penalty kick proved to be their downfall as the Clarke University Pride prevailed 2-1 at Spartan Field on Tuesday.
 
In a game that was a virtual dead heat on the stat sheet, it was the visitors from Dubuque, Iowa who capitalized on their chances and stayed undefeated on the season. The Pride had more shots (12 to 11) and more shots on goal (six to five) but most importantly they had more shots find the back of the net, although one may have had a little help from the Spartans.
 
In the fifteenth minute, Clark earned a corner kick to the right of the goal. The kick was taken by Jamie Albertson and played perfectly just outside the six-yard box onto the waiting head of Hope Ward who directly the ball on frame. Spartans' defender Jamie Theusch tried frantically to clear it, but her attempt deflected off the inside of the left post and went across the goal before another Spartans defender deflected in it. It is still unclear if the goal was awarded before the clear attempt by Theusch or if it later was official after the deflection by defender Kacey Watson, but in either case the visitors took a 1-0 lead.
 
Barely six minutes later the Spartans would even it up due to some aggressive play from Spartans forward Skylar Hollingshead. A beautiful diagonal pass from Morgan Hollenbeck gave Hollingshead a partial break as she sprinted down the left side. Her first attempt on goal was stopped by the Clarke keeper but a rebound was given. After a scramble Hollingshead was able to bury the ball in the net with her right foot. The goal for the senior from Lake Saint Louis, Mo. was her first of the season and evened the game at one.
 
A bit of bad luck struck the Spartans in the 39^th minute, and it proved to be the difference in the game. The Pride had a throw-in along the sideline to the right of the Spartans defensive goal. As the ball floated into the 18-yard box an inadvertent hand-ball was called on the Spartans defender as she stepped in front of the Clarke attacker and was attempting to settle the ball. The resulting penalty kick was successful for the Pride, and they took a 2-1 lead. That would be the final tally of the game.
 
MBU is now 1-5 on the season. Counting Tuesday's game, the Spartans are in a stretch of playing six opponents who are nationally ranked or receiving votes in a string of eight games. Clarke is one of the two non-ranked opponents within that progression. The Spartans will now go back on the road for a Saturday tilt with (24) Campbellsville University on Saturday. After that road contest the Spartans will enjoy four consecutive homes games beginning next Tuesday.