In what would have been called a version of a mud bowl if not for the turf at Hunter Stadium, the Lindenwood women's soccer team fell to No. 3 Central Missouri Friday night by a score of 1-0 after a first-half goal proved to be the difference maker.
 
The Lady Lions came out with some fire, attacking and possessing for nearly the first 10 minutes. Lindenwood earned a corner kick opportunity just three minutes in, but a header attempt failed. Five minutes later, a pass from Taylor Wade set up Jackie Lindner to make a run down the sideline and around the defender. Lindner entered the box, but a shot was knocked down from Jennies' Anna Dilkes.
 
UCM took the kick from Dilkes and had a great chance to take the early lead, but the Lindenwood defense kicked it away. The visitors would capitalize, however, just a few minutes later after a pass from Kayla Hamner set up Baylie Edwards to knock it by Lindenwood goalkeeper Mary McGilvray.
 
Lindenwood looked to shake off the early drought, as Lindner took an indirect kick in the 16th minute that Dilkes knocked away, forcing another Lady Lions corner kick. Then the Jennies would go on to control the next 20 minutes, getting off four shots and a pair of corner kicks.
 
The Lady Lions kept clawing, and forced their final corner near the end of the half, but the UCM defense continued to play stingy to knock it away.
 
At the half, the Jennies led 4-3 in corner kicks and had eight shots. McGilvray made three saves for Lindenwood, but UCM led one-nil.
 
The second half began oppositely of the first frame. Each team exchanged a shot with a great chance to put a goal on the board. Becky Roberts fired one from the right side that was saved by Dilkes, while UCM's Jada Scott sailed one above the cross bar four minutes later.
 
The Jennies put on the pressure in the 76th minute with a couple quick passes set up a pair of shots, but McGilvray hauled each in to keep the score at 1-0 in favor of the visitors. Late in the 80th minute, UCM maintained its attack with a corner kick opportunity and a shot that went high into the stands.
 
McGilvray kept turning away each Jennies' attempt in the latter half of the frame as the Lady Lions offense tried to find its stride before the whistle. A final attack by the hosts fell short, and UCM held on to win the match 1-0.
 
The 1-0 defeat marks the second consecutive loss by that score to the Jennies, both being at Hunter Stadium. Overall for the match, McGilvray made seven saves, while the Jennies controlled the edge in corner kicks 6-3.
 
This is the first loss the Lady Lions have suffered this season, and fall to 3-1-0 following the one-goal defeat. Lindenwood will have a quick turnaround as it will play host to the visiting Missouri Western Griffons on Friday at 1 p.m. from Hunter Stadium.