Women's Lacrosse Drops Home Game to Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Marshall, Mo., (March 9, 2024)-  The Missouri Valley College women's lacrosse team welcomed in Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.) for a non-conference game Saturday afternoon inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.  The Vikings fell by a final score of 20-7.

Play started with Health Sciences & Pharmacy holding possession early and creating three quality chances.  The first shot hit off the crossbar, while Junior Goalkeeper Melissa Sandoval (Weiser, Idaho) followed with a save.  The third attempt resulted in the first goal of the contest, less than two minutes into play.  Sandoval made another save moments after the ensuing draw control, but UHSP tacked on another goal just over one minute later, then added goal number three of the quarter with just over three minutes off the clock.  Missouri Valley struggled to clear possession over the next stretch of play, as Health Sciences & Pharmacy scored again to lead, 4-0, near the nine-minute mark.  The first quality chance for the Vikings came just over one minute later, as Freshman Defender Miranda Wilson (Idaho Falls, Idaho) had a free-position shot saved.  Health Sciences & Pharmacy followed with a quick counter-attack and scored midway through the quarter to make it 5-0.  Sandoval came up with another save moments after the restart, and Missouri Valley eventually got onto the scoreboard, as Freshman Midfielder Hailey Davis (Maryville, Tenn.) assisted on an Freshman Attack Atleigh Lark (Alma, Mo.) goal to cut the deficit to 5-1 with less than six minutes remaining in the quarter.  The final minutes of the quarter were taken over by UHSP, as two more goals were scored to put Missouri Valley in a 7-1 deficit.

The two teams traded possession through much of play in the second quarter.  Sandoval made three saves through the midway point of the quarter, and Freshman Defender Miriam Viklund (Hamosand, Sweden) earned a free-position chance near the five-minute mark, which was saved.  The Vikings eventually worked another chance, and Davis scored, off an assist from Freshman Attack Rose Szymanski (Southampton, England), to cut the gap down to 7-2 with less than four minutes remaining in the half.  Health Sciences & Pharmacy reacted quickly after the draw control, and scored less than one minute later.  The Vikings held possession late in the quarter, and Davis eventually earned a free-position shot.  Davis scored on the opportunity, and sent MVC into halftime trailing, 8-3.

The third quarter began with two early goals scored by UHSP in three minutes of play, to put the advantage at 10-3.  Davis scored the next two goals for Missouri Valley, both one free-position chances. The second goal came just past the seven-minute mark to cut the deficit down to 10-5.  Health Sciences & Pharmacy quickly extended its lead to 11-5 less than one minute later, but Sandoval made two more saves in goal as UHSP was held scoreless through the final five minutes of play.

After a quick Health Sciences & Pharmacy goal started play in the fourth quarter, Junior Attack Allexis Lark (Alma, Mo.) scored on a free-position shot, and Atleigh Lark followed with another goal to make it a 12-7 score with just over three minutes played.  The final stretch of play was taken over by UHSP, which scored eight-straight goals to finish out the contest.  The Vikings fell by a final score of 20-7.

Davis led with four goals and one assist, to go with six ground balls and four turnovers caused.  Atleigh Lark added two goals and Allexis Lark scored one goal to go with five turnovers caused.  Sandoval made 11 saves in goal.  Missouri Valley came up with 23 ground balls and forced 31 turnovers.

The loss drops Missouri Valley to 1-3 on the season, while Health Sciences & Pharmacy improved to 5-1.

Up next, the Viking women's lacrosse team goes to Davenport, Iowa, for the first Heart of America Athletic Conference contest of the season against St. Ambrose (Iowa), March 16 at 12 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

ABOUT MISSOURI VALLEY COLLEGE

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.