DES MOINES, Iowa – The Missouri State women's soccer team (5-8-3, 1-3-1 MVC) dropped its final road match of the regular season, 3-1, to the Drake Bulldogs (11-4-2, 1-3-1 MVC) at Cownie Soccer Complex on Saturday (Oct. 22).
 
The Bulldogs tested the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Goalkeeper of the Week, Evan Stamp, early on, after registering their first shot at the 51-second mark of the match.
 
In the eighth minute, the Bears were called for a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick for the home team. Drake's Kayla Armstrong converted the penalty kick for the Bulldogs, to take the early 1-0 lead over Missouri State.
 
MSU's Mary Disidore tallied the first opening-half shot for the Bears in the 15^th minute of the match, as Drake's goalkeeper, Brooke Dennis, collected the save. Rachel Catrell would be the only other Bear to take a shot in the first half, while the Bulldogs fired 12 shots, landing four of them into the hands of Stamp.
 
In the opening 10 minutes of the second half, Brooke Zimmerman, Ashley Coonfield and Disidore attempted to create an offensive push for the Bears, but were unable to get the ball through Drake's defense. The Bulldogs added five more marks to their shot advantage before Armstrong netted her second goal of the day to give Drake the 2-0 lead with 15 minutes left in the match.
 
In the 87^th minute, Armstrong sealed the hat trick by beating her MSU defender and sending the ball past the out-stretched Stamp, to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead.
 
MSU would make its final substitutions in the 87^th minute, sending Alaina Derse, Mayleigh Oder and Karen Kozol in the match for the Bears. In the 88^th minute, Derse took a corner kick for the Bears as the ball eventually found the feet of Oder. Oder fired away, netting her first collegiate goal and preventing the Bears from being shutout for the fourth-consecutive match.
 
There is a three-way fight for the final two spots in the conference tournament, as MSU, Drake and Indiana State have an MVC record of 1-3-1 and four points. The Bears' postseason fate will rely heavily on the outcome of the Sycamores' final match of the regular season against Loyola tomorrow.
 
Missouri State will close out the regular season on Thursday (Oct. 27), when the Evansville Purple Aces come to Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium. Eight seniors will be recognized prior to the match for their contributions to the women's soccer program.