Women's Soccer Pulls Away From Missouri Baptist at Home

Marshall, Mo., (August 28, 2024)- The Missouri Valley College women's soccer team played for the first time at home this season, hosting Missouri Baptist in a non-conference match Wednesday evening inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.  The Vikings built up a big first half lead, and pulled away for a 6-0 victory.

Play started with both teams putting pressure on goal in the opening two minutes.  Senior Forward Ashley Arribas (Lake Forest, Calif.) tested the Missouri Baptist keeper quickly after the start of play, and Sophomore Goalkeeper Marina Barbara Bujalance (Cornella Llobregat, Spain) saved a shot one minute later.  The Vikings took advantage of a bad pass in the MBU defensive third of the field, and Senior Forward Miriam Aldabo Alguero (Mequinenza, Spain) set up Junior Forward Viktoria Einsbor (Havdrup, Denmark) for a chance.  Einsbor put a shot from nearly 30-yards out into goal to put Missouri Valley in front, 1-0 with two minutes off the clock.  The Spartans countered after the restart, and forced Barbara Bujalance into a save.  The two teams traded possession over the next stretch of play, until midway through the half.  With 21-minutes played, Junior Defender Marta Carrasco Mesa (Sevilla, Spain) sent a corner kick into the MBU box, and Freshman Defender Lucia Torres Vizcaino (Malaga, Spain) sent a header from six-yards out just inside the far post to put the lead at 2-0.  One minute later, the advantage grew, as Carrasco Mesa sent a long pass over the Spartan defense and into the path of Junior Midfield Judit Ferre (Barcelona, Spain).  Ferre shot from the top of the box and past the keeper to make it a 3-0 score.  The Vikings tacked on one more goal, at the 33-minute mark, as a corner kick from Ferre found Carrasco Mesa near the MBU goal.  The header from Carrasco Mesa hit off the crossbar and into the net to push Missouri Valley into a 4-0 lead at halftime.

The two teams traded possession through the opening ten minutes of the second half.  Moments later, Ferre sent a pass to the top of the box, which was flicked on from Junior Forward Julia Richardson (Ashland, Mo.).  The pass found Junior Forward Marlene Flores (Bolivia), who shot from 18-yards out and past the MBU keeper to extend the lead to 5-0.  The Vikings added one more goal, as Freshman Midfielder Irene Alvaro Sabate put Arribas on a breakaway opportunity.  Arribas took her shot from the top of the box, and into the upper-right corner of goal to make it a 6-0 score with 22-minutes played in the half. Sophomore Goalkeeper Lola Benitez (Madrid, Spain) needed to make one save in goal late in the half to preserve the shutout, and Missouri Valley earned a 6-0 victory.

Ferre had one goal and two assists and Carrasco Mesa finished with one goal and one assist.  Einsbor registered the game-winning goal, while Torres Vizcaino, Flores and Arribas each added one goal.  Barbara Bujalance made two saves, and Benitez made one save to combine for the shutout.  The six goals is the most for the program since a 7-0 win over Mount Mercy (Iowa), back on Oct. 5, 2022.  The Vikings led 13-6 in total shots, and held a 5-1 edge in corner kicks.

Missouri Valley improves to 1-2 on the season, while Missouri Baptist drops to 1-1.

Up next, the women's soccer team stays at home for a non-conference game against Kansas Wesleyan.  The game is scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m., inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium

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.