CHICKASHA, Okla. (macbulldogs.com) --- The McPherson College women's soccer team returned to the pitch Thursday after nearly a three-week layoff, falling 2-1 to the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (USAO) at the Drover Pitch.
The game was the first for the Bulldogs (3-1-0) since defeating Avila on September 3 and there may have been some rust.
USAO (4-3) scored its first goal in the eighth minute as Kylie Pyle redirected a cross from Heidi Vargas past McPherson goalkeeper
Sheryl Evans (Nassau, Bahamas). The Drovers tallied a second goal in the 29th minute as Thais Silva redirected Evans' deflection of a Vargas shot into the goal.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit in half when
Heather Diamond (Lake Forest, Calif.) scored an unassisted tally in the 72nd minute but were unable to find the equalizer.
Both teams had 15 shots and three corner kicks. USAO was led by four shots - two on goal - from Pyle and three shots each from Bianca Cardenas and Jordan Cleveland.
Brandi Hutchison made four saves to pick up the win for the Drovers.
Cydney Lewis (Ottawa, Kan.) had a match-high five shots for McPherson.
Astrid Alvarez (Flagstaff, Ariz.) and
Danielle Kakebeen (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) each had three shots, while Diamond added two and
Kayla Faust (Manhattan, Kan.) and
Bereniz Velazquez (Orange, Calif.) added one apiece. Only five of the Bulldogs' 15 shots were on goal.
Evans was credited with five saves on seven attempts in 90 minutes of play.
"We got outplayed in the first half but put together a strong second half performance," said head coach
Doug Quint. "We just couldn't dig ourselves out of the hole. If we can put together 90 minutes like our second half, then we will be a tough out."
The team's Oklahoma road trip continues Saturday afternoon with a 2 p.m. game at Saint Gregory's University in Shawnee.
