The Missouri State Lady Bears put their best foot forward this evening in shutting out the St. Louis University Billikens, 1 - 0. The game-winning goal came in the 68th minute when Kate Hercules hammered a header into the left side of the goal from a dead ball by Angela Parsons. The opportunity was created when senior captain Jackie Hood one-timed a loose ball near the midfield on the diagonal for Chelsea Anderson. Chelsea, as she has all year, outraced the defense and earned the free kick when she was taken down from behind while shielding the ball just outside the box in the left corner. Angela’s service was on the mark and the goalkeeper and the two defenders on the post watched as the ball flew past them.
The game tonight was the finest I have seen the Lady Bears play in the three years of coverage. Last’s years game at SLU was a 0 - 3 loss and while the Bears played hard, the result was never in doubt. This year the Billikens came into the match ranked in the Top 30 by one service and at #6 in the Central Region with what is now an 11-4 record and playing their best ball. I don’t think they anticipated the team that Coach Brewer has molded this year.
I don’t have the space to describe the play of the 14 girls responsible on the pitch for the result but it was a clinic. There’s a 45 second clip at the end of the video that is an excellent example of the hard work, the teamwork, the anticipation and the result that was well deserved. I open the video with an interview with senior Captain Jackie Hood who describes the win as the biggest in her four years here at Missouri State.
With the Drake Bulldogs hosting Creighton Friday, an upset by Creighton would mean the Lady Bear’s game Sunday in Omaha against Creighton would determine who earns the top seed. A Drake win would earn them their third straight Conference title and the Bears would be playing for a first round bye in the upcoming Conference tournament.
The Bears return home for their final regular season game on Wednesday against Oral Roberts.
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