UCA women’s soccer falls 3-0 in Missouri State defeat

Missouri State didn’t waste much time putting Central Arkansas women’s soccer in a hole on the road Saturday.

UCA left with a 3-0 loss and couldn’t build on the good feeling from its Thursday night outing.

The Bears just couldn’t match Missouri State’s pace on either end of the field.

UCA finished with only five shots on the day, while the home team fired off 16.

Missouri State jumps ahead early

Missouri State broke through in the 14th minute when Maggie O’Keefe scored off a Brooke Cattoor assist.

It was O’Keefe’s second goal of the season.

She wasn’t done there either.

O’Keefe struck again in the 24th minute, this time with help from Thea Dimitroff and Ellie Neath, pushing the lead to 2-0.

UCA had a shot at cutting into that gap before halftime.

Sakiko Manabe tested the Missouri State keeper in the 30th minute, but the save kept the score at 2-0 heading into the break.

Earlier in the half, Jama Akpanudo had gotten deep into Missouri State’s zone and looked like she might tie things up early.

She pulled her shot wide right, and the game stayed scoreless for a while longer.

Bears search for answers in second half

UCA kept pushing after halftime and looked for any way back into the match.

Kaylee Vorisek let a shot fly in the 57th minute, but Missouri State’s keeper came up with another save.

Missouri State put the game away in the 67th minute.

Neath scored her first goal of the year, with Ava Batiuk picking up the assist, and that made it 3-0.

Goalkeeper Anna Kathryn Harrell kept things from getting worse in net for the Bears, finishing with five saves against 16 shots.

Missouri State’s defense held UCA to just three shots on target the entire match.

The loss drops UCA to 1-3-1 on the young season. Missouri State improved to 2-2-1 with the win.

UCA doesn’t have much time to dwell on the result.

The Bears are back home next Sunday at 7 p.m., hosting UT Martin at the Bill Stephens Track and Soccer Complex.