Williamsburg, Ken. - The No. 10 Central Methodist Women's Soccer team dropped its season opener to No. 4 Cumberlands by a score of 2-1 Wednesday night in Williamsburg, Ken. 

The Eagles fall to 0-1 while the Patriots improve to 2-0. It marks CMU's first regular-season road loss since March 14, 2021. 

Central found itself trailing at the halftime break, with the opening goal for UC coming off a free kick in the 42nd minute of play. The Eagles struggled offensively in the first half, as Cumberlands outshot CMU, 8-1 in the opening 45 minutes. 

CMU adjusted at halftime and equalized on a free kick in the 50th minute of play. Central's goal was scored on a header from freshman forward Mariana Barreto, with the assist coming from fellow freshman Larissa Ozorio. 

The Eagles defense held steady, fending off waves of offensive pressures from the Patriots in the second half. Cumberlands was able to break the deadlock in the 80th minute on a free kick that just sailed past Central's defense to land in the back of the net. 

CMU was unable to respond in the final 10 minutes of play, as the Patriots would go on to win the Top 10 showdown. 

The Eagles were outshot by UC, 17-4 in the match, in which eight of those shots were on goal. Junior goalkeeper Max De Armas Colombo played a full 90 minutes between the posts, picking up five saves. 

Barreto led the CMU offense with two shots, both coming on goal, and the equalizer in the opening five minutes of the second half. 

The Eagles will host Southwestern Christian (Okla.) in their home-opener Sunday, August 27 at 1:00 p.m. at Davis Field. 

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