No. 23 Women's Soccer Earns Shutout Win Over Baker

Marshall, Mo., (Oct. 7, 2023)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's soccer teams welcomed in Baker (Kan.) for a Heart of America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.  The No. 23 women's soccer team built up a lead early in the first half and finished a 3-0 victory.  The No. 20 men's team scored a pair of early goals and came away with a 3-1 win.

The women's game started with Missouri Valley holding the better of possession through much of play.  The first chance on goal came with just over seven minutes played in the contest, as Sophomore Forward Ashley Arribas (Lake Forest, Calif.) and Sophomore Midfielder Carla Carmona (Barcelona, Spain) set up Junior Forward Miriam Aldabo Alguero (Mequinenza, Spain) with a shot that got past the Wildcat keeper and into the net to give MVC a 1-0 lead.  The advantage nearly doubled five minutes later as a header from Junior Defender Rina Kinami (Tokorozawa, Japan) hit off the crossbar.  The Vikings eventually worked another chance, coming off a free kick.  Sophomore Defender Marta Carrasco Mesa (Sevilla, Spain) sent a long free kick into the box, which found Arribas who put her header into goal from 10 yards out to make it a 2-0 score with nearly 29 minutes played in the half.  Baker was held to without a shot through the entire run of play in the half, and Missouri Valley went into halftime with a 2-0 advantage.

Possession was dominated by Missouri Valley early after the second half got underway.  Marta Carrasco had two opportunities to increase the lead in the opening seven minutes of play.  Her first chance was saved by the BU keeper, and her second shot, from long-range, hit off the cross bar.  The two teams traded possession over the next stretch, but Baker was limited to no shots on goal.  With just over 76 minutes played in the contest, Sophomore Defender Zoe Christofaro (Tucson, Ariz.) worked down the right side of the Baker box.  Her cross found Sophomore Forward Silvia Maldonado (Madrid, Spain), and her shot from 12 yards out beat the keeper to stretch the lead out to 3-0.  Sophomore Defender Elisa Melus (Zaragoza, Spain) put one last shot on goal near the 81-minute mark, but her chance was saved.  Missouri Valley held Baker to no quality chances in the match and earned a 3-0 victory.

Aldabo Alguero scored her first goal and first game-winning goal of the season.  Arribas had one goal and one assist, and now has seven goals and 16 total points on the season.  Maldonado added her first goal.  Carmona registered her third assist and both Christofaro and Carrasco Mesa recorded their first assist.  Freshman Goalkeeper Lola Benitez (Madrid, Spain) and Freshman Goalkeeper Marina Barbara Bujalance (Cornella Llobregat, Spain) teamed up for the fourth shutout this season.  Missouri Valley held a 16-2 advantage in shots and a 6-1 edge in corner kicks.

Missouri Valley improves to 7-3-2 on the season and 6-0 in the Heart.  Baker drops to 2-8-2 overall and 1-4-1 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking soccer teams travel to Fayette, Mo., Wednesday, for a doubleheader with Central Methodist (Mo.).  The women's team takes on the No. 6 Eagles at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 30 academic programs, study abroad program, extracurricular activities, and a wide variety of sports. The most popular majors include education and business, criminal justice and exercise science. Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.