FULTON, Mo. – The William Woods University women's soccer team fell short in their season opener, falling 2-1, to No. 18 Central Methodist in overtime on Monday night, in the Owls season opener.  
 
The Owls were outshot by the Eagles 28 to 12. William Woods goalkeeper Arianna Meikel recorded 13 saves. Shelby Wibe, and Brianna Morrow both recorded one shot. Lexi Rosa and McKenzie Gourley both recorded one shot which was on goal. Aurora Henriksen tallied in three shots with two being on goal, and Abby Prather-Turner recorded four shots with three shots on the goal and scored the Owls only goal.
 
WWU returns to action on Wednesday, August 22 when they travel to Canton, Missouri to face Culver-Stockton College in non-conference action. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
 
Game Flow
Both the Owls and Eagles struggled in the beginning. In a wet a slippery contest neither team was able to put points on the board. Within the first two minutes of the contest, Abby Prather-Turner had a shot go wide of goal.
 
This then led to a shot by Central Methodist's (CMU) Andrea Villar which was blocked by Lexi Rosa. With ten minutes passed the Eagles attempted another shot that was saved by Arianna Meikel.
 
With twenty fine minutes remaining in the half, the Eagles started to make a push, but the Owls defense stepped up. A shot by CMU's Rachel Topliss was blocked by Meikel which led to an immediate shot from Andrea Villar that was again blocked by Meikel.
 
Entering late into the game was Owls Shelby Scanlan. After being in the game for only three minutes, Scanlan attempted a shot that went wide on goal. A minute after that, the Owls continued the fight with another attempt moments later by Aurora Henriksen that was blocked by CMU.
 
As the Owls took the field for second half, they looked to continue their momentum. With only four minutes off the clock, Aurora Henriksen attempted a shot that was saved by CMU goalkeeper, Ashlynn Freeman.
 
The Owls were the first team to get onto the scoreboard. After a Central Methodist was called for a hand ball in the box, Prather-Turner came up for the penalty kick. She scored on the kick putting the Owls ahead 1-0.
 
Central Methodist came back and less than three minutes later, got a penalty called on the Owls in the box. Elly Boothe took the penalty kick and scored tying the game at 1-1. Three minutes later, Boothe had a shot that went wide on goal. Two minutes later, Kayla Deaver attempted a shot that was saved by Arianna Meikel.
 
As regulation came to an end, CMU looked to make one final push. With 2:28 remaining on the clock, CMU's Melissa Fuentes attempted a shot that was blocked by WWU's Lexi Rosa, which led to another CMU attempt from Anika Kallash that was again blocked by Rosa sending both teams into overtime with a score of 1-1.
 
Three minutes into overtime, CMU's Kayla Deaver had a game winning goal defeating the Owls 1-0.
 
By the Numbers
14 – WWU recorded fourteen saves in the contest
12 – William Woods tallied in 12 shots for the contest
13 – Arianna Meikel recorded thirteen saves
7 – WWU had seven shots in the contest on goal
4 – Abby Prather-Turner led the Owls with four shots