Women's Lacrosse Drops Home Game to Health Sciences & Pharmacy

Marshall, Mo., (April 5, 2025)- The Missouri Valley College men's and women's lacrosse teams played a home doubleheader Saturday afternoon inside Volney C. Ashford Stadium.  The women's team fell to Health Sciences & Pharmacy (Mo.), 14-7.

Play in the women's game opened on a quick goal scored by Health Sciences & Pharmacy, with less than one minute off the clock.  The two teams traded possession over the next stretch, and Senior Attack Allexis Lark (Alma, Mo.) put the first Viking shot on goal near the 11-minute mark, which was saved.  Sophomore Defender Rose Szymanski (Southampton, England) came up with a ground ball moments later, which eventually led to a goal from Sophomore Attack Kathryn Bonning (Southampton, England), off an assist from Sophomore Midfielder Hailey Davis (Maryville, Tenn.) to tie the teams at 1-1 after more than four minutes had been played in the quarter.  Health Sciences & Pharmacy responded on the ensuing draw, and went back in front with a goal less than one minute after the restart.  The Viking deficit grew midway through the quarter, as UHSP tacked on two more goals to sit in front, 4-1, with less than six minutes to play in the quarter.  Freshman Midfielder Ava Graham (Pearland, Texas) came up with a draw control, and Bonning added another goal to cut the gap down to 4-2 near the five-minute mark.  Possession was traded by both teams through the final minutes of the first quarter.  Bonning had another shot on goal, with less than two minutes remaining, but the shot was saved.  As time was winding down, the Vikings were awarded with a free-position chance, and Freshman Midfielder Tiyanna Thomas (Hampton, Ga.) scored on the opportunity to put MVC in a 4-3 deficit going into the second quarter.

Missouri Valley tested the UHSP keeper as the second quarter got underway, with shots from Graham and Bonning both saved through the opening four minutes.  Junior Defender Dejha Porter (Rochester, N.Y.) forced a turnover, and MVC had possession in its offensive side of the field.  Szymanski set up Graham with a shot, and the attempt tied the teams at 4-4 nearly midway through the quarter.  Both teams struggled to create quality chances over the next four minutes, until Health Sciences and Pharmacy scored close to the four-minute mark, then controlled the ensuing draw and added another goal moments later to give the team a 6-4 lead.  The Vikings were unable to cut into their deficit as play ended in the second quarter, and the team trailed by two goals at halftime.

Health Sciences & Pharmacy took control of the third quarter quickly after the restart, scoring four goals in less than five minutes of play.  Missouri Valley was outscored by a 6-0 margin throughout the entire quarter, and trailed, 12-4.  The gap continued to grow as the fourth quarter got underway, with UHSP tacking on another goal near the 11-minute mark.  Missouri Valley answered back two minutes later, when Graham assisted on a Thomas goal to put the score at 13-5.  A series of goals came in the final five minutes of play, the first from Health Sciences & Pharmacy.  Davis answered back with two goals in the final two minutes of the contest, but the Vikings fell by a final score of 14-7.

Davis led with two goals and one assist, while Bonning and Thomas each had two goals.  Graham finished with one goal and one assist.  Szymanski, Allexis Lark and Sophomore Attack Atleigh Lark (Alma, Mo.) each added one assist.  Freshman Goalkeeper Audrey Connolly (Houston, Texas) made eight saves, while Miranda Wilson led with five ground balls.  Missouri Valley forced 31 turnovers and finished 19 of 23 on clear attempts.

The loss drops Missouri Valley to 4-8 overall and 2-5 in the Heart.  Health Sciences & Pharmacy improves to 6-7 on the season and 3-4 in the conference.

Up next, the Viking lacrosse teams will travel to Davenport, Iowa, to play St. Ambrose (Iowa) in a Heart doubleheader. Women's game at 5 p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.

Box Score-Click Here

About Missouri Valley College

Standing out as one of the most innovative and student-focused liberal arts colleges in the Midwest, Missouri Valley College (MVC) is committed to preparing students for success beyond the classroom. Through the Viking Voyage program, MVC prioritizes career readiness from day one, equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel after graduation. Each of MVC's 30+ in-demand majors—including nursing, business, cybersecurity, computer science, criminal justice, and exercise science—integrates personal instruction, experiential learning, and professional opportunities to prepare graduates to thrive in a rapidly changing and globally connected world. At Missouri Valley College, higher education is more than earning a degree—it's a transformative journey that begins with the end.