ST. JOSEPH – Griffon soccer (15-3, 9-2) fell short of a shared MIAA regular season championship, but battled with No. 1-ranked Central Missouri (18-0, 11-0) to the end of a 2-0 loss for Missouri Western.
 
The win clinched an outright MIAA crown for Central Missouri, its eighth-straight regular season conference championship. The Griffons finished second in the MIAA standings and will be the No. 2 seed and host Central Oklahoma (7-9-2, 4-5-2) in the first round of this week's MIAA Championships. That game will be at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 1.
 
After MWSU controlled the tempo for the early portion of Sunday's game, Jada Scott scored her 13^th goal of the season in the 35^th minute off a Kayla Hammer corner kick. The Griffons kept the UCM lead to one until the 75^th minute when Baylie Edwards scored off a pass deflected by Missouri Western.
 
Central Missouri had 13 shots to Missouri Western's seven with five UCM shots on frame to three by the Griffons. Missouri Western did manage five corner kicks to the Jennies' two. Cassidy Menke had three shots for the Griffons, one on goal. Both of Sydney Cluck's shots came on frame.
 
UP NEXT
Missouri Western will host a postseason game for the first time in program history, Wednesday. Central Oklahoma's loss to Missouri Southern on Sunday left the Bronchos as the No. 7 seed. Missouri Western used three second half goals to defeat Central Oklahoma 3-0 earlier this season. The first round MIAA tournament game will be Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. Per MIAA rules, a $5 admission fee will be charged to all fans over the age of six. The MIAA Championship semifinals will be played Friday, Nov. 3 at the highest remaining seed as will the championship game on Sunday, Nov. 5.