McPHERSON, Kan. — The Hesston College women’s soccer team fell 3-0 to McPherson College on Wednesday night, moving the Larks to 0-1-1 on the season.
McPherson put pressure on the Hesston defense early, forcing goalkeeper Ashleigh Williams to make a save less than four minutes into the match. The Bulldogs broke through in the eighth minute when Arianna Diaz scored off an assist from Alexis Lutz to give McPherson a 1-0 lead.
Williams helped keep the Larks within one throughout the remainder of the first half. She stopped another attempt from Jordyn Smith in the 13th minute and denied Gracie Speltz in the 29th. Williams added her fourth save of the half on a shot from Ally Harrison in the 44th minute, sending Hesston into halftime trailing 1-0.
Hesston generated its first scoring opportunity early in the second half. Shannon Land earned a corner kick in the 52nd minute, and Brooklyn Paskett followed with a shot on goal in the 54th, but McPherson goalkeeper Emily Singletary made the save.
The Bulldogs answered less than two minutes later. Diaz scored her second goal of the match in the 56th minute to extend McPherson’s advantage to 2-0.
McPherson added its third goal in the 71st minute when Speltz found the back of the net off another assist from Lutz. Hesston looked to respond shortly afterward, with Land sending a shot high in the 74th minute, but the Larks were unable to break through.
Williams continued to make stops late, recording saves in the 80th and 84th minutes to keep the Bulldogs from adding to their lead. She finished the night with six saves.
McPherson finished with a 14-2 advantage in shots and put nine attempts on goal. Paskett recorded Hesston’s lone shot on goal, while Land accounted for the Larks’ other shot.
