MARYVILLE, Mo. -- Despite holding a 10-6 second half edge in shots, a 90th-minute counterattack saw Missouri Western drop a 2-1 result at Northwest Missouri State on Sunday afternoon. The game-winning goal was scored with just seven seconds left on the clock, giving the Griffons no time to find an equalizer.
The Bearcats struck first, as Madi McKeever assisted on an Adell Gore goal in the 13th minute.
MWSU had a number of solid chances in the first half, but couldn't find the back of the net as Grace Goetsch recorded three saves in the opening 45 minutes.
Carly Zabloudil equalized for the Griffons in the 54th minute, slotting a shot to the right post. As MWSU looked to maintain possession, the ball was played back from midfield to Kieran Burkey. The sophomore sent a long ball forward, and a great dummy run by Kaili Campbell put Zabloudil in alone on the keeper.
MWSU kept up the pressure in search of the go-ahead goal, but wasn't able to find the back of the net.
In the 90th minute, both teams found their best opportunities of the half, but MWSU was on the wrong side of the possession. Jaden Skinner was played in on the right wing after a failed clearance by the Bearcats, but her shot was saved by Goetsch.
In the final seconds of the match, Northwest intercepted a clearance attempt on the right side of midfield, and boomed a cross to the left side. Sophie Cissell collected the ball and played it forward into the stride of Teagan Blackburn. Anna Mayer came out to cut down the angle, but Blackburn was able to curl the ball around the diving keeper and inside the back post.
Missouri Western falls to 3-1-2 on the 2021 campaign with the loss. Mayer recorded five saves in the contest, with Goetsch also posting five saves for the Bearcats. MWSU returns to Spratt Stadium next Friday, hosting the University of Central Missouri in a 7 p.m. kick.