RECAP: SUNFLOWER STATE FC, SAINT LOUIS SCOTT GALLAGHER

Written By: Sofia Scekic | WPSL Correspondent

Forward Mackenzie Dimarco (Emporia State) opened the scoreline with a goal in the seventh minute, but Sunflower State FC could not find the back of the net the rest of the game and lost to Saint Louis Scott Gallagher SC 3-1 on Saturday evening in Kansas City. With the win, Saint Louis Scott Gallagher moved up to sixth in overall points across the Heartland Conference and still sits just three points behind the KC Courage at the top of the standings.

Dimarco, in between two defenders, took a pass from midfielder Thayline Teixeira and sent the ball into the far right corner of the goal to give Sunflower State a quick 1-0 lead. The offense cooled down after that for most of the remainder of the first half as Sunflower State did not have another opportunity to score until the 37’ minute.

Dimarco once again beat two defenders and took the ball right in front of goal, but Saint Louis Scott Gallagher goalkeeper Brynne Qualley (University of Missouri - Saint Louis) came up to challenge her and saved the potential goal. Sunflower State’s offense has run through Dimarco this season who leads the team with six goals while no other players on the team have scored more than two.

Saint Louis Scott Gallagher got its first points on the board when Sunflower State midfielder Jordan Austin (University of Central Missouri) headed the ball into her own goal on a corner kick in the 15’ minute. The action quieted down for the last 30 minutes of the first half as Saint Louis Scott Gallagher had three more shots on goal but could not connect.

The beginning of the second half was more of the same with both teams trading fouls and corner kicks before the Saint Louis front line finally broke through a tired Sunflower State defense to score in the 60’ minute.

Forward Hayley Hogenmiller (Murray State) sent a pass between several Sunflower State defenders to midfielder Leah Selm (Missouri)  who passed the ball to the center of the penalty box to forward Sydney Etter (Murray State). Izzy Patterson (University of Tennessee at Martin) received a pass from Etter on her left and put the ball into the left side of the goal just above the goalkeeper’s head.

Things got chippy after Saint Louis took a 2-1 lead with defender Lauren Kaempfe (Southeast Missouri State) earning a yellow card in the 64’ minute from a tackle on the sidelines of Sunflower State. The home side nearly took advantage of the ensuing free kick to even the score, but Teixiera proved unable to penetrate the Saint Louis back line.

Forward Hannah Larson (Saint Louis University) tacked on what would be the final point of the game in the 67’ minute as a teammate sailed a pass nearly the length of the whole pitch. Larson found her way around several defenders to put the ball in an empty goal after Sunflower State’s goalkeeper came out to challenge her.

Sunflower State had six more chances to score in the game’s final 30 minutes, but was unable to finish any of those opportunities to lessen the score deficit. In the 91’ minute — just three minutes before the match ended — Sunflower State’s frustration showed through with forward Allisa Ward (MidAmerica Nazarene University) being issued a yellow card for a tackle along the sidelines. The loss marked Sunflower State’s third in five games while Saint Louis Scott Gallagher is now on a three-game winning streak after Saturday’s match.

Saint Louis will close out its season on June 28 with a rematch against Sunflower State that is slated to begin at 7 PM CT. Sunflower State has three games remaining. In addition to this upcoming Wednesday’s game, the team will face Lou Fusz Athletic and Kansas City Scott Gallagher during the first week of July to close out its inaugural WPSL season.