Fraser’s PK Goal Not Enough to Lift Statesmen Over Missouri Valley

William Penn Women’s Athletics

Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s soccer team came close to knocking off the toughest foe it has faced this year, but fell just short in a 2-1 setback against Missouri Valley in non-conference action Tuesday.

The Statesmen (5-5), who had their five-game winning streak snapped, were outshot 23-5. That became a moot fact, when at the 16:06 mark, Kirsty Fraser (Sr., Perth, Australia, Elementary Education) was placed in front of the Viking keeper for a penalty kick. The senior took advantage of the opportunity to score her second goal of the fall.

The lead held for the next 12 minutes until Missouri Valley (7-1-1) knotted the contest. Each side had chances throughout the rest of the contest, but the Vikings were the only ones to again find the back of the net, going ahead for good in the 74th minute. Missouri Valley entered the matchup unofficially 33rd in this week’s NAIA poll.

Laura Gentry (Sr., Fruitland, Idaho, Physical Education) kept the navy and gold in the game with 12 saves.

“I am a little disappointed for the girls as we did not play up to our own level in regards to effort,” Head Coach Willie McGowan said. “We gave the ball away too many times cheaply which meant we had to defend for large periods of the game. When we played with more control and possession, we showed we can move up the field and create things, but we did not do enough to trouble their defense or goalkeeper. However, to only lose 2-1 to a team like Missouri Valley, even when we feel we did not give our all, really shows the potential this team has within themselves to do something special this year.”

“Over the past week or so, I feel we have lost our way a little so we need to find ourselves and play with the same urgency and tempo that allowed us to win the previous games before the break,” McGowan added. “There is a lot left in us to surprise some teams, and hopefully this loss will spur us on to the end of the season.”

Next: William Penn travels to Cedar Rapids Saturday to face Mount Mercy in its Midwest Collegiate Conference opener at 1 p.m.