The Missouri State field hockey team fell 5-4 to Miami University Saturday afternoon at Plaster Field in the Mid-American Conference opener for the Bears. The loss drops the Bears to 5-4, 0-1 in the MAC, while Miami improves to 7-2 overall, 2-0 in MAC play.

Miami’s Kate Snyder scored the first goal of the game unassisted in the 8th minute of play but the Bears’ Kristen Pettey answered their goal two minutes later off a pass from Jennifer Portell. It was Pettey’s sixth goal of the season.

Junior Melissa Lantz scored the first of two goals this game exactly two minutes after Pettey’s. Lantz picked up a cleared ball and worked it up the field, shaking off two defenders for her ninth goal of the season.

Miami then pounded off three straight goals, two coming off corners. Teja Kammler, Katie Brightwell and Christina Brightwell all scored for the Redhawks in the first half to take the 4-2 lead into halftime.

Maggie Marcum scored the winning goal for Miami two minutes into the second period.

Lantz scored her second goal of the game at 47:43 off a scramble in front of the goal to push the Bears even closer.

Junior Alyssa Hile tipped the ball in off a shot by fellow junior Amana Miyashita who received a pass from senior Sarah Johnson. The goal was Hile’s sixth goal of the season.

Senior Sandy Fulkerson was credited with her fourth defensive save of the season.

Miami doubled the Bears on shots taken 28-24 and earned 10 more corners (14-4).

The Bears continue the conference home stand Sun. Sept. 28, against Ball State at 11 a.m. at Plaster Field.