Washburn desperately needed a win to stay in the chase for post-season play. The Lady Blues are sitting in ninth place, one spot to low to make the MIAA tournament. Washburn must wait till Sunday’s game to get their next win after a close loss on Friday.

The team continued the season’s theme of being outshot by their opponents Friday night against the University of Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos more than quadrupled the number of shots the Lady Blues took with 22, while Washburn only attempted five. With that wide of a margin one would expect a blowout, but a strong performance from sophomore goalkeeper, Tori Fuglister, kept the game close allowing just two goals. Fuglister kept her composure in goal and came up with six saves to keep the Lady Blues in the game.

A goal from senior forward Tia Stovall in the 79 minute helped bring the game within reach after the Bronchos scored in the 18 and 65 minute. After a couple of last minute attempts to score, time expired and Central Oklahoma came out on top with a 2-1 victory. It was the third consecutive game Washburn lost 2-1 and was also the seventh time the Blues only managed to score one goal in a game.

It also marked the one of the last times Stovall and Talley would play on Washburn’s field after playing with each other since high school. The loss hurt the Blues’ chances of reaching the MIAA tournament significantly. It was hard for Stovall to be happy with her fifth goal on the season since the Lady Blues lost, but Stovall was able to find a bright spot.

“Since it was an assist by Leah (Talley) I kind of just got chills after the goal, but everyone on the field earned that goal,” said Stovall.

 Talley, Stovall and Lambert will play their last home game in a Washburn uniform on Sunday against Northeastern State at 2:00 pm. The three seniors will be honored before the game in what could be their final game as a Lady Blue.