Soccer Scores Senior Night Win

Coming off their first loss of the season, the fifth-ranked University of Central Oklahoma soccer team bounced back as they defeated Missouri Southern University 2-1 on Sunday afternoon at Wantland Stadium in the final home game of the regular season. 

“I’m really proud of this team and all they accomplished,” said head coach Mike Cook. “They worked so hard to get to this point and they deserve to take a moment and relish in the fact they went 17-1 this season. But we’re not done either. We know we have a bigger goal and we will start focusing on that pretty quick.”

The Bronchos experienced their first loss to Northeastern State University 1-2 in their second to last game of the season. It was the first time the Bronchos had given up two goals in one game this year, making the lone goal from Asha Haile not enough to defeat the RiverHawks.

“I’m disappointed that we lost because I know we are a way better team than the way we played,” Cook said after the loss. “This goes to show you have to step up and play every game for every minute.”

However, the Bronchos went back to their normal winning routine on senior night, which honored Ally Salls, Camrie Hurst, Ashley Snider, Callie Mclaughlin, Katie Killion, Casey Herndon, Morgan Cherry and Piper Cannon.

Killion struck first for the Bronchos as she pushed the ball in to the back of the net from the right side of the box and over the goalkeeper in the 16th minute. Cherry would assist her, as she did twice during the game.

After giving up just their seventh goal of the season, Killion would score her second goal of the night from a cross by Cherry in the 72nd minute to give UCO the lead. The game-winning goal was her 10th on the season, which leads all players in Division II. Killion has 24 goals on the season.

The Bronchos outshot the Lions 24-4. Goalkeeper Salls played all 90 minutes and did not make any saves, as many of the shots from Missouri Southern were off target. Missouri Southern’s only goal came from a penalty kick.

UCO finished with a 17-1 regular season record and 10-1 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.

The Bronchos will enter the MIAA tournament as the one-seed, where they will face off against eighth-seeded Washburn at 7 p.m. on Tom Thompson Field on Oct. 31. If they win, they will host the remainder of their games at home.

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