Alyssa Hile and the Missouri State field hockey team were at it again. For the second game in a row, Hile scored two goals and the Bears scored seven as the team earned a decisive 7-0 victory against in-state rival Saint Louis.
    Missouri State struck early and often. Melissa Lantz’s (Wildwood, Mo.) scored less than two minutes into the game on a pretty assist from Alyssa Hile. The Bears went on to score three more times in the first half courtesy of Kristina O'Connor (Fort Worth, Texas) and Stephanie Chase. O’Connor notched her fourth goal of the season, while Chase’s two first-half goals brought her season total to three.
    The second half brought more of the same. Kristen Pettey sandwiched a goal between Hile’s two scores and the rout was on.
Plenty of Bears got in on the action. In addition to Hile, Lantz and Megan Shamleffer both recorded an assist. Pettey and O’Connor each had two.
    Steph Anderson preserved the Bears’ first shutout of the season by stopping five Billiken shots, only one of which came in the first half. This performance comes on the heels of Saturday’s game against Robert Morris in which MSU did not allow a shot on goal the whole first half.
    “We’re happy with the way the girls have played,” said head coach Dawn Callahan. “They are picking up on the things we tell them in practice. It is good to see.”
    Hile has led the way. The Wildwood, Mo. native has totaled four goals and three assists the last two games, good for 11 points.
    “She has really stepped up this past week,” said Callahan of her senior captain. “She is much more of a presence on the field.”
    The win was the third straight against Saint Louis, moving MSU’s lead in the all-time series to 52-27-2. MSU is now 2-3 on the season.
    The Bears will be tested in their next game. Saturday, September 12, they welcome the Louisville Cardinals to Plaster Field. The Big East power comes in at only 2-2, with one loss coming to 10th-ranked Duke, but was ranked 13th in the NFHCA’s Preseason Poll. Start time is 11:00 a.m.