Missouri Southern State University's women's soccer team won 2-1 over the Newman University Jets on senior night Sunday.
That followed a 4-0 loss to No. 7 Pittsburg State University Friday night as both teams battled for postseason position.
As a result of Sunday's game, Newman (2-12-3, 2-8-1 MIAA) is eliminated from the postseason.
Southern (4-8-4, 3-5-3 MIAA) needs to win its remaining game against the University of Central Missouri and it needs Northeastern State University to lose to the University of Central Oklahoma in order to make the postseason.
Only the top eight teams make the MIAA tournament.
Sunday game
Newman received the starting kick. The Jets got off to a high-flying start with several quick shots that forced saves from senior Bella Smith.
MSSU is a physical team, having the most fouls and yellow cards in the MIAA (206, 22 respectively). They showed that early with two fouls in the first 3 minutes.
Southern had several early chances including two corners that saw a Lion get to the ball but the shot went wide. Missed shots were the story for Southern as in the first 20 minutes they had eight shots and only two on frame. Southern continued to take shots ending the night with a program record 34.
Despite the early pressure, Newman struck first. A goal kick found Allison Hernandez open on the right side. A foot race ensued but Hernandez pulled well clear of Southern and she took a shot and scored 21 minutes in.
Southern didn’t back down in a must-win game. Four minutes later, Sophie Spoonmore got the ball in the corner before finding Alexis Rodriguez at the top of the 18-yard box where Rodriguez scored the equalizer and her first goal in her collegiate career.
Minutes later, Spoonmore found herself in a similar situation except she saw senior Daniela Marquez in the center and Marquez punched it in. Spoonmore would get her second assist, which is the first time a Lion had two assists since 2014.
MSSU head coach Elliot Chadderton said that scoring two goals after Newman scored "showed a lot … about the character of our team that … even though you get a little bit of adversity that you’re able to turn it around and step up.”
The Lions continued to take shot after shot at the Newman net as the first half ended.
The second half saw Southern get 18 shots to Newman’s five, but neither was able to score.
Friday game
Pittsburg set the tone early. The Gorillas drove down the field before a foul gave them a free kick just to the right of the 18-yard box. Sarah Peyton Webb took the kick and curled it over the head of Lion’s goalkeeper Millie Robshaw-Charlesworth to score the first goal in less than 4 minutes.
The Gorillas didn’t back off and continued to dominate Southern, getting several more shots and promising chances. That pressure would result in eight more shots in 10 minutes with two being on-frame.
The game would pause after Southern’s Nevie White went down with a foot injury after contact. Her replacement, Sam Ayala, then came head-to-head with a PSU player. The contact that pulled Ayala out resulted in a Pitt State free kick around midfield that would be sent into MSSU’s box. The first bounce wasn't convincingly cleared as the ball glanced off several players and the post before Rose Harden found it at her feet with an empty net in front of her. She scored the second goal of the night in the 23rd minute.
Ann Boehnlein of Pittsburg received a yellow card after a bad tackle but it didn't slow the Gorillas as Sammie Edwards soon found herself in a 1-on-1 with Robshaw after a cross from Mia Hunt. Edwards beat Robshaw and scored goal number three for Pittsburg.
The first half would wrap up after several more shots from Pitt State.
Both teams made several changes coming out of the half, including Southern switching keepers to Bella Smith, but MSSU continued to be on its back foot.
Just five minutes into the second half, a tackle in the box was called a foul and PSU received a penalty kick. Piper Hughes stepped to the spot and converted with a kick to the center-right of the goal.
MSSU will be at home at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to take on No. 19 University of Central Missouri in a must-win game if they want to make the postseason.