The Missouri State women’s soccer team (10-6-3, 4-1-1) battled the top-seeded Creighton Bluejays (15-3-2, 5-1-0) into overtime of the MVC Tournament Championship match in Omaha, Neb. on Sunday afternoon. Creighton’s Erin Gunther scored on a penalty kick in the 98th minute to give the Bluejays the title and a 2-1 win.
Tara Bailes hit crossbar with Bears’ first shot in the 11th minute of play. Missouri State would record the first four shots in the match. But Creighton’s Beth Fyles converted a fast break for the Bluejays in the 25th minute to put MSU in a 1-0 hole. The Bears outshot the Jays seven to four in the half. Despite allowing two corners to Creighton, the MSU defense was tough for most of the period.
The Bears kept on the pressure registering four of the first six shots in the second half. In the 74th minute, the match would take on a new perspective. Freshman Ashley Washburn received a feed from Nia Williams. Washburn drilled a bending shot into the upper left corner of the net to bring the match all-square at a goal apiece.
The teams headed to overtime tied at 1-1, MSU’s Jessica Teahan made a diving stop on a deflection of an Emily Orbell shot in the 97th minute. All told, Teahan made six saves in the match for the Bears.
The Bears outshot Creighton 15 to 12 in the match. Tara Bailes led the way for MSU with four shots. Katelyn Frederickson, Tiffany Laughlin, Shelby Stewart and Washburn tallied two shots apiece.
