The Chart Online

Lady Lions prepare for showdown with Bulldogs
Eric Scott

Assistant Sports Editor

By Eric Scott

Assistant Sports Editor

Lady Lions soccer has an important week with games against Northwest Missouri State University and Truman State University.

We re going after the conference title, VanDeusen said. To do that, we need to win the rest of our games.

VanDeusen said the team s game plan against the Bearcats is to constantly press them defensively, and on offense, to possess the ball and score early goals. He said the Bearcats are dangerous because they are an unpredictable team.

We must win against Northwest Missouri, VanDeusen said. If we don t win, the game against Truman will mean nothing.

In order to win the rest of its games, VanDeusen said they need to play with the lead better.

I think we ve been supporting each other well on the field, said Libby Negus, freshman defender. We don t get down on each other when the other team scores a goal.

Southern s game against Emporia State University on Oct. 17 started off with three straight Lady Lions goals coming at 32:31, 34:11 and 35:57 in the first half. ESU came back and scored three unanswered goals at 39:24 of the first half, then at 54:09 and 84:48 of the second half. After going scoreless in two overtimes, the game ended in a 3-3 tie. Sophomore midfielder Ashley Munnelly had two goals, and sophomore midfielder Sarah Sneed added another goal.

We can t relax when we get the lead, VanDeusen said. I also think I need to do a better job as a coach with the mental parts.

VanDeusen said the team has been putting the ball in the net, but it needs to do a better job of defending.

Negus said the players can t get ahead of themselves and need to take it one game at a time.

We need to know we can be beaten, she said. We have to remember every game is the most important game of the season.

In its game on Oct. 23, Munnelly scored the first goal at 19:13 in the first half, and sophomore midfielder Amber Phipps added another goal at 31:15 in the first half as the Lady Lions defeated Northwest Missouri State 2-0.

Southern s win sets up a showdown with Truman State that might go a long way in determining the MIAA champion. Each team is undefeated in conference play. The game is at noon Saturday at TSU.

If we can win the conference, VanDeusen said. It will put us in good position for an NCAA [Division II] playoff berth.