Upset Thwarted Against Vikings

Marshall, Mo.–The Statesmen women’s soccer team faced its second-consecutive ranked foe and unfortunately again ended up on the losing end, dropping a 3-0 matchup to #17 Missouri Valley in its Heart of America Athletic Conference opener Saturday.

WPU (2-4, 0-1 Heart) began league play with a setback as it was outshot 20-6, but only 8-4 in the second half.

Taylor Witthauer (So., Vancouver, Wash., Nursing) nearly put the navy and gold on top in the fifth minute, but her attempt clanged off the crossbar. The Vikings (5-1, 2-0 Heart) then took control and got on the board in the 13th minute.

Just 93 seconds later, the hosts struck again to take a 2-0 advantage into the locker room. Witthauer had both of William Penn’s shot attempts in the first stanza.

The sophomore tallied her team’s first shot of the second half as well with an attempt requiring a MVC goalkeeper save.

The Vikings put the contest away with their third and final goal in the 58th minute. Sydney Estrada (Sr., Glendora, Calif., Biology) and Piper-Rae Davis (Fr., Dorr, Mich., Psychology and Sociology) notched second-half shot attempts to wrap up the Statesmen offensive output.

Katja Bierman (So., Alkmaar, The Netherlands, Digital Communication) reached double figures in saves with 10, while Danielle Gundling (So., Huntington Beach, Calif., Elementary Education) also earned playing time between the pipes in the waning minutes of the contest.

Next Up: William Penn travels to Des Moines next Tuesday to face Grand View in Heart play at 5 p.m.