No. 6 Women's Soccer Overcomes Deficits in Win Over Park

Marshall, Mo., (Oct. 4, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's soccer teams hosted Park (Mo.) in a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium Saturday evening.  The No. 6 women's team worked back from an early deficit to earn a 4-2 win.  The men's team fell to the Pirates, 2-0.

Park took an early lead to open play in the women's game, scoring with less than one minute played in the contest.  Missouri Valley came back with the better of possession over the next stretch of play.  Senior Defender Daijah White (Tucson, Ariz.) tested the Park keeper first, with a shot on goal one minute after the restart.  The Vikings produced five corner kicks and another shot on goal, coming from Senior Forward Ashley Arribas (Lake Forest, Calif.) through the midway point of the half, but still trailed by the one goal.  Junior Goalkeeper Lola Martinez Benitez (Madrid, Spain) came up with the first save of the game for MVC at the 30-minute mark, then made another save 10 minutes later to keep the team at a one-goal deficit.  With time winding down in the half, the Vikings earned a free kick just outside the Pirate box.  Senior Defender Marta Carrasco Mesa (Sevilla, Spain) sent the free kick towards the PU goal, and the attempt hit off the post.  The rebound went to Freshman Forward Daniela Manzanares about 12 yards from goal, and the one-time shot got past the keeper and tied the contest at 1-1 just before time ran out in the half.  The teams went into halftime tied at one goal each.

The two teams created early chances to begin the second half.  Sophomore Midfielder Fabiana Vasquez (Isla Margarita, Venezuela) had a shot saved two minutes after the restart, while Martinez Benitez made a save moments later.  Senior Forward Viktoria Einsbor (Havdrup, Denmark) tested the keeper near the 52-minute mark, but the shot was saved.  The Pirates worked quickly after the save, and scored another goal to reclaim the lead, 2-1, with just over seven minutes played in the half.  The deficit was short-lived for MVC, as three minutes later Senior Midfield Judit Ferre (Barcelona, Spain) assisted on a goal from Carrasco Mesa to tie the teams.  Park came close to going back in front, 15-minutes into the half, as Martinez Benitez kept a shot out of goal.  Nearly seven minutes later, the Vikings went in front for the first time, as Ferre scored off an assist from Senior Forward Marlene Flores (Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia) to make it a 3-2 score line.  The Vikings continued to pressure Park, and eventually added another goal.  Ferre came up with another assist, this time on a goal from Vasquez, as the lead grew to 4-2 near the 79-minute mark.  The Pirates produced only one more shot on goal in the closing minutes, which was saved by Martinez Benitez.  Missouri Valley came away with a 4-2 win.

Ferre had the game-winning goal to go with two assists, and now has seven goals, two assists, 16 points and three game-winning goals on the season.  Carrasco Mesa added her second goal and fifth assist.  Manzanares and Vasquez both scored their first goals this season, and Flores recorded her third assist.  Martinez Benitez made six saves in goal.  Missouri Valley held a 24-11 advantage in shots and created 12 corner kicks.

The win moves Missouri Valley to 8-0-3 overall and 6-0-1 in the Heart.  Park falls to 4-3-2 on the season and 2-2-2 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking soccer teams go to Oskaloosa, Iowa, for a Heart doubleheader with William Penn (Iowa), Oct. 11.  The No. 6 women's team plays at 11 a.m., while the men's team takes on the No. 7 Statesmen at 1:30 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here 

About Missouri Valley College

Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.