SAINT LOUIS – The Missouri Baptist University Women's Soccer team dropped their sixth straight contest on Tuesday afternoon, but it was not without excitement near the end. Despite a Spartan goal with just under four minutes remaining, MBU fell to (16)Cumberland University by a score of 2-1.
The visitors from Lebanon, Tenn. controlled the pace and tenor of the game throughout with relentless ball pressure and creative attacks, but still only managed two goals despite outshooting the Spartans 21 to six. The Phoenix came in averaging almost five goals per contest.
Cumberland scored in the 29
th and 54
th minutes to take a two-goal lead.
However, it was the Spartans who picked themselves off the turf and got within a goal late in the game. They had a great opportunity with just over seven minutes remaining when
Madi Dunahue took a free kick from about 25 yards and just to the left of the Phoenix goal. Her attempt on net beat the Phoenix goalkeeper but floated just over the top of the cross bar in the upper right corner of the frame. Dunahue was not yet done putting her stamp on the game. With just under four minutes remaining
Gabbie Wood found
Gianna Gore making a great run just to the right of the Cumberland 18-yard box. Gore's cross was deflected before it appeared another Phoenix defender would clear it. The attempted clear deflected off an attacking Dunahue past the Cumberland goalkeeper and into the net. The goal for the graduate student from Saint Charles was her first of the season and got the Spartans back within a goal at 2-1.
Cumberland never lost their poise and were able to finish out the game and complete the victory. MBU is 0-3 all-time against Cumberland, having been beaten in 2021 and 2022 by combined scores of 10 to two.
Four of the six losses in the current streak have come against teams that are nationally ranked or receiving votes.
Next up for the Spartans is the middle game of an action-packed Homecoming Saturday at Spartan Field. MBU Women's soccer will play at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, right after the football game and just before a men's soccer match scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Saturday's opponent is the University of Health Sciences & Pharmacy and will signal the start of the American Midwest Conference schedule for MBU.
