Pride give No. 16 Missouri Valley all they can handle in 2-1 loss

MARSHALL, Mo. - Looking for a Heart of America upset, the Clarke University women's soccer team hung with No. 16 Missour Valley College with an opportunity to win late but MVC pulled off a 2-1 victory.

The Vikings struck first in the 39th minute in the first half as Morgan Dierks scored off of a rebound from a previous shot to take a 1-0 lead that they held going into halftime. First half shots were very much in favor of Missouri Valley as they outshot the Pride 11-1 as CU keeper Brynlee Ward made five saves on six shots on goal in that first 45 minutes.

The second half was generally more productive for Clarke as shots were still in favor of the Vikings but at a 7-3 clip with the Pride getting the first goal of the second half as Sofia Morales scored in the 61st minute to even it up at 1-1. That score held and it looked like the game could head into overtime but in the 87th minute, Emily Rodriguez finished off a cross for the game winning goal with under four minutes remaining as the final blow.

Clarke women's soccer will return home for their next game when Culver-Stockton College comes to Burrows Field on Oct. 20 for a 6:00 p.m. CT start next Wednesday.