The Missouri Valley Vikings women’s soccer team completed an unbeaten season in the Heart of America Conference, defeating Baker 5-3 on the road Saturday, Nov. 1.
Carla Carmona converted a penalty kick six minutes into the contest to open the scoring. Baker levelled the contest in the 33rd minute, going on a decisive counterattack after Carmona made a shot that was saved by Baker’s Sophia Holloway. The Vikings applied the pressure quickly in the second half, with Marlene Flores sending a shot on goal two minutes in. The shot bounced off the crossbar, but landed in front of Ashley Arribas, who sent it in to put Valley back on top. Flores would claim her goal five minutes later with Arribas assisting. Baker pulled one back a minute later, but Arribas would bag the game-winner in the 67th minute. Another Baker goal followed in the 76th minute, but Fabiana Vasquez restored Valley’s two-goal lead a minute later.
Missouri Valley outshot Baker 21-7, with ten of Valley’s shots on goal, while creating nine corner kick opportunities. Goalkeeper Marina Barbara Bujulance recorded four saves for the Vikings, who improve to 13-0-4 overall. Their 11-0-2 finish in the conference has them seeded second in next week’s Heart of America tournament, which begins Wednesday night when Missouri Baptist visit Volney C Ashford Stadium.
Central Methodist won the Heart regular season title with a 12-0-1 conference mark, claiming the top seed earlier in the week with a 3-0 win over Baker. The Eagles start conference tournament play Wednesday in Fayette against Mount Mercy.
The Viking men fell 2-0 to Baker on Saturday afternoon, allowing goals in the 20th and 82nd minutes. Baker outshot the Vikings 9-6, with both of Valley’s shots on goal saved by Maxot Arystanov. The Vikings are now 7-7-3 overall, with a 5-6-2 mark in the conference. They’ve earned the seventh seed in the Heart of America tournament and will begin play Tuesday night in Olathe against second-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene. Baker claimed the top seed, while Central Methodist is seeded sixth and will visit Grand View on Tuesday.