In a game that featured seven yellow cards and saw Lindenwood outshoot Western Illinois to the tune of 31-1 shots, one goal was all that was needed to secure the victory for Lindenwood. That goal came courtesy of freshman Sophia Mueller. It was Mueller’s second goal of the season, and was all the Lions needed to get their first Ohio Valley conference win of the year. The goal came in the 75th minute following a turnover from Western Illinois, as Mackenzie Compton was able to gain possession at the top of the box. Compton then looked left and found Mueller, who took one touch to get around the Leatherneck defender guarding her and sent a strike off of her left foot that got past Leatherneck goalie, Ariel Bernard, and found the back of the net.
The Lions had chances all day to build the lead before that goal but came up short on multiple occasions. Compton had a chance in the 3rd minute following a bad touch by Western Illinois, but she ripped a shot that sailed just high of the goal. Lily Suter would follow that up in the seventh minute, as she had a chance but her shot also sailed wide. Compton had yet another chance in the 13th minute, as she used her speed to get past the Leatherneck’s defensive line and had a one-on-one chance against Bernard but the goalie was able to get a leg on Compton’s first shot as she aimed for the back post. Then on the rebound, she had another opportunity but mistimed her touch and wasn’t able to get solid contact on the ball, and Bernard was able to adjust and cover it.
Overall, in the first half, the Lions had 17 shots but nothing to show for it on the scoreboard. It was a very physical game all day as both teams combined for 26 fouls including 13 in the first half. The game also saw seven yellow cards with two coming in the first half.
The second half started again with constant pressure from Lindenwood, who controlled the ball much of the entire game but again yielded no goals. The first 10 minutes of the second half saw two more yellow cards to Western Illinois, who appeared to try and play more physically than Lindenwood to at least a tie, as Western Illinois could only manage one shot the entire game. That shot came off a free kick that the Leatherneck’s kicker outkicked her team and the ball ended up in the arms of Lindenwood goalie, Jordan Hollingsworth.
As the second half continued to go on, and time started to run out, the Lions again had several great chances to score but to no avail. Compton had a shot go off the crossbar, and then followed that up with a header of hers miss to the left. Additionally, Ava Blum would have a shot bang off the crossbar also in the 68th minute. Rachel Jackson would also have an opportunity in the 74th minute, but her shot also missed just outside the left post.
Finally, in the 75th minute, Mueller would find the back of the net and give Lindenwood a 1-0 lead, which they rode the rest of the game ending with a win. On the day Compton would lead the team with six shots, and Anna Johnson and Tasneem Dizdarevic each had four shots. When the game was all said and done, 13 Lions would attempt at least one shot but Mueller would be the only one who found the back of the net.
It was a much closer win than the Lions would’ve wanted, as Western Illinois came into the game 0-7 and had only scored two goals all season. Lindenwood improves their record to 5-4 and 1-0 in the OVC, they will head on the road to Eastern Illinois on Sep. 26 before returning home on Sept. 29 and Oct. 3 for a two-game homestand against SIUE and Southern Indiana University.
