Missouri State University

The Northwestern Wildcats’ offense proved to be too much for the Missouri State field hockey team, as the Bears fell to the 18th-ranked squad, 8-0, in Evanston, Ill.

Facing their second top-20 team in as many games, the Bears fell behind early when Northwestern’s Kaylee Pohlmeyer deflected in Chelsea Armstrong’s pass from the top of the circle to make the score 1-0, only 2:55 into the game. It was Armstrong’s first of four assists.

The Wildcats did not stop there. They scored goals in the 5th, 21st, and 30th minute to take a 4-0 halftime lead.

The Bears offense had opportunities early, but could not capitalize. In the 15th, Junior Stephanie Chase (Chesterfield, Mo.) and senior Alyssa Hile (Wildwood, Mo.) had shots from close range, but neither could find the net against the stout Wildcat defense.

Northwestern did not let up in the second half, scoring three more times in the first 22 minutes after intermission. The final score of the day came with less than eight minutes to play.

The Wildcats only outshot the Bears 13-4, but were able to make the most of their scoring chances. MSU held Northwestern to only eight corners.

“The score does not reflect how we played,” said head coach Dawn Callahan. “We played a lot better than 8-0.”

Unfortunately for the Bears, freshman goalkeeper Steph Anderson (Pittsburgh, Pa.) could not repeat her stellar performance from last time out, a 3-0 loss to 16th-ranked Louisville. In that game, Anderson held strong against a relentless Cardinal offensive attack and recorded 15 saves, her high for the season. Coming into today’s game, Anderson had a .803 save percentage and a 1.97 goals against average.

The eight goals are the most allowed by the Bears since October 18 last year, a 8-2 loss at Miami.

MSU is back in action tomorrow, in Evanston, against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks. Start time is 2:00 p.m.