ABILENE, Texas – McMurry women's soccer team dropped its second-consecutive match, falling to University of the Ozarks, 4-2, at Wilford Moore Stadium.
The setback dropped the War Hawks to 5-4 on the year. The Eagles improved to 3-10-1 and snapped a seven-match winless streak.
McMurry scored the first two goals of the match but, unfortunately for the host team, Ozarks scored more often.
In the 12th minute of play, Chelsea Coffey dribbled the ball up the sideline heading toward the UO net. Coffey fed the ball to
Kristen Grant, who in turn touch-passed the ball 15 yards in front. Freshman
Alexa Ledesma Bear was on the spot and lifted the ball into the upper left third of the goal to put McM on top, 1-0.
At the 22:52 juncture, Grant tallied her sixth goal of the season.
Aleria Luna took the kick on a re-start following an Ozarks fouls, sending the ball at the face of the goal where Grant headed it past UO goalie Mary Eoff. That gave the War Hawks the 2-0 cushion.
But the advantage was short-lived, as the Eagles clawed back. Back-to-back goals by Brittanie Gragg in the 33rd and 44th minutes sent the match to halftime knotted at 2-2.
In the 71st minute, Ozarks' Hannah Carter slammed a free kick past all the defenders – and McM goalkeeper
Ashley Hemphill – to put the visitors on top, 3-2, with 70:56 elapsed. UO added some insurance in the 74th minute for the 4-2 final score.
McMurry had a slight advantage in shot attempts, 15-13, but the Eagles had one more directly on goal (9-8) than did McM.
Hemphill had five saves for the War Hawks. Eoff had six stops for Ozarks.
