Last Thursday, Oct. 19, the Washburn Lady Blue soccer team traveled to Joplin, Mo., where they faced off against Missouri Southern University in their final road game of the season. With the MIAA tournament closing in, both teams desperately needed a win. The Lady Blues, after a strong fight, ended the match short against Missouri Southern 2-1.

Washburn fell behind early as Missouri Southern took to the board first with 2 goals consecutively five minutes apart from one another – this left the game at a 2-0 halftime lead over the Washburn Lady Blues.

In the second half both teams were at a standstill offensively. Washburn junior middle fielder Lara Doesche was able to tack on a goal for the Lady Blues off of a free kick in the 58th minute. But the Blues were unable to tie up the game.    The Lady Blues then played on Oct. 21 at home against Western State University in a non-conference match that ended with the Lady Blues unfortunately falling once more 2-1 against the Mountaineers.

Western State was 0-13 coming into the game. The Lady Blues jumped out to anearly lead as senior forward, Leah Talley, scored off of a Megan Buckley shot.

The Western State University Mountaineer’s quickly returned with a vigor in the second half and scored two goals within seven minutes of each other, leaving the final score of the match a 2-1 title over the Washburn Lady Blues.

The Washburn Lady Blues, now 4-12 this season, will be hosting Central Oklahoma this Friday at home at 6 p.m. in their second MIAA match during this final week of the regular season. The Lady Blues dropped out of the top eight in the MIAA rankings. With only two games left, both conference matches, the Lady Blues are in good shape to not reach the MIAA tournament for the second year in a row.

Picked to finish as a bottom feeder in the MIAA preseason polls, the Blues have managed to turn heads as they continue to fight for a shot at the post-season.  Washburn finishes off the season against Northeastern State University at home on Oct. 26.