WPU Falls to Central Methodist 4-1

William Penn Women’s Athletics

Oskaloosa–The Statesmen women’s soccer team failed to hold onto its first half lead in a 4-1 Heart of America Athletic Conference setback to Central Methodist (Mo.) Saturday.

William Penn (5-5, 2-3 Heart) led 1-0 at the break, but the Eagles (6-4-2, 2-1-1 Heart) posted four unanswered scores to close out the night. The hosts were outshot 17-7, including 13-4 in the second half.

Alyce Correia (Jr., Perth, Australia, Elementary Education) managed her first goal of the fall by firing in a shot from deep at the 17:10 mark; Mary Richards (Sr., Winterset, Iowa, Psychology/Sociology) earned the assist (her first as well).

Unfortunately, CMU turned the tables in the final 45 minutes to claim the win with two goals in the opening 17 minutes and then two more in the concluding seven minutes.

Adriana Borjon (Jr., Willits, Calif., Exercise Science) was tested like never before since putting on the navy and gold in 2015. The junior collected 11 saves with eight of those in the second stanza.

“I cannot quite express how deflating this result is coming after a great win against Graceland earlier in the week,” Head Coach Willie McGowan said. “Four of our five losses have now come when we have held the lead and we simply are not doing enough to protect that advantage. It is disheartening for the players, and the team as a whole, when we lose games in that fashion and then having to drum up the energy and belief over and over again. We will have to do just that, though, as we move into another tough week playing against two very good teams in Ashford and MidAmerica Nazarene.”

Next: William Penn travels to Clinton Tuesday to face Ashford in non-conference action at 4 p.m.