MACOMB, Ill. – The Missouri State women's soccer team (3-6-2) fell to the Western Illinois Leathernecks (2-6-1) in overtime, 2-1, on Sunday (Sept. 25).
 
Freshman Brooke Zenner took the first shot of the match for Missouri State in the 7^th minute, but a Western Illinois defender popped in front to block the shot. In the 14^th minute of the match, MSU's Mary Disidore fired the second shot of the match for the Bears but sent the ball wide.
 
The first open look for the Bears came in the 27^th minute of the match, as Brooke Zimmerman flicked the ball to Brooke Prondzinski, but Prondzinski was unable to get the ball past WIU's goalkeeper, Jennifer Currie.
 
In the 36^th minute, MSU's Sidni Trotter made her first of many defensive stops to limit scoring opportunities for the Leathernecks, as WIU's Madeline Edwards had an open look but Trotter charged in to force the corner kick and keep WIU off the board. Trotter would strike again in the 56^th minute, preventing back-to-back shots by WIU from coming in contact with MSU goalkeeper Evan Stamp.
 
The Bears' defense would allow just two shots by the Leathernecks in the first half, blocking the first shot as WIU's Michaela Cody sent the second shot of the half just wide. The two shots allowed by MSU is the fewest amount the Bears have allowed in the first half this season.
 
In the second half, Stamp had a one-on-one situation with WIU's Emily Bollman but was able to pop up to make the save to prevent the late-match goal by the Leathernecks. Less than two minutes later, WIU would try to set up a second shot opportunity but Millie Kingsbury flew in front of the ball and headed it out-of-bounds to protect her goalkeeper from another one-on-one situation.
 
In the 88^th minute of the match, the Leathernecks put one on the board after WIU's Michaela Cody sent the ball over the hands of a stretched-out Stamp and through the top right-hand corner of the net.
 
With three seconds left in regulation, the Bears took advantage of a ball that was mishandled by WIU's Lilly Butler at midfield. WIU's goalkeeper, Currie, came out in an attempt to make the save but MSU's Ashley Coonfield was able to punch it past the keeper to tie the game at one-all. The goal by Coonfield is her third of the season, the most of any Bear.
 
Less than two minutes into overtime, WIU's Bollman dribbled inside the box, around MSU defenders, and fired a shot past Stamp to give the Leathernecks the 2-1 victory.
 
Missouri State will have a week to prepare for its second conference match of the season when the Loyola Ramblers travel to Betty and Bobby Allison South Stadium on Sunday (Oct. 2).