Rematch brings hope of redemption after heartbreaker
Eric Scott

Assistant Sports Editor

 

With an 11-4-2 record on the season, the Lady Lions will close out their season with a rematch with the Truman State University Bulldogs.

In its first game against Truman State on Oct. 26, the Lady Lions lost 2-1.

 Against Truman, it was a heartbreaker of a loss,  said Geoff VanDeusen, head coach.  I think we can beat them this time. We re excited to face them again. 

After its loss to Truman, the Lady Lions lost to Central Missouri State, 1-0.

 I don t think anything necessarily went wrong in our losses,  VanDeusen said.  they were just good opponents and good games. We played well enough to win. 

Southern came back by defeating Emporia State 5-2 on Nov. 1. The game started by an ESU goal at 2:45 in the first half. The Lady Lions came back with two consecutive goals by sophomore midfielder Ashley Munnelly at 22:29 and 25:18 in the first half. Emporia tied the game at 59:29 in the second half, but the Lady Lions scored three unanswered goals at 64:58, 69:12 and 75:06 in the second half to close out the game. Sophomore goalkeeper Shannon Brosnahan had eight saves. Munnelly scored three goals for the hat trick which gave her 19 goals on the season. It set a Missouri Southern and MIAA record for most goals in a season. Her 43 goals for the season also set school and conference records.

 The loss to CMSU really broke our back,  VanDeusen said,  but to come back like we did against Emporia said a lot about the team. 

Southern s game against the Southwest Baptist University Bearcats started off with a Southern goal by sophomore forward /midfielder Kaysie Griffin at 16:10 in the first half. SBU would even up the score at 63:31 in the second half. After two scoreless overtimes, the game ended in a 1-1 tie. Brosnahan had nine saves in the game.

 We should have picked up the intensity in the second half against SBU,  said Jenni Johnson, freshman midfielder.

VanDeusen said the team defended well in the game, but it got  unlucky at times. 

The Lady Lions play Truman at Bodon Field on Friday. It will take place at 5 p.m.

 Lately, we ve played a lot better,  Johnson said.  I think we re very excited to play Truman.