Fayette, Mo. - The No. 4 Central Methodist Women's Soccer team claimed sole possession of first place in the Heart regular season standings with a 4-2 victory over No. 20 Missouri Valley College Wednesday night at Davis Field.
CMU improves to 11-1-1 overall and 7-0-0 in Heart of America. The Vikings now stand at 7-4-2 and are handed their first loss in Heart play, as they drop to 6-1.
It didn't take the Eagles long to score, as graduate midfielder Renee Berak found herself in open space from 20 yards out. Berak fired a shot which found the upper right corner of the net for the first score of the game in just the eighth minute.
Central was gifted a goal less than eight minutes later, as an own goal by the Vikings Put Central out in front 2-0.
Missouri Valley responded with a score of their own in the 32nd minute to cut the Eagles' lead in half, 2-1, which would prove to be the score at the halftime break.
Central extended its lead to 3-1 in the 53rd minute off a put back goal from Lacey Ann Murray, her sixth goal of the year. The Vikings once again cut the lead back to one in the 74th minute.
In the closing moments of the match, reigning Heart Offensive Player of the Week Mariana Barreto, sent a cross in to Celine Witt, who fired the ball past the keeper to ice the win for Central.
As a team, CMU finished the afternoon firing of 13 total shots including 12 shots on goal, compared to eight shots and six on goal for the Vikings.
Barreto led the Eagles offense with four shots taken with three coming on frame along with an assist. Witt tallied three shots with two coming on frame while Andrea Jimenez recorded two shots.
Candela Blanco Esteban earned her ninth win of the year in goal, playing all 90 minutes and picking up three saves.
CMU has now tallied four goals in five of their last six matches, including four-straight dating back to Sept. 30.
Central will conclude its three-game home stand with a match against (RV) Benedictine College Saturday, Oct. 14 at 5:30 p.m. at Davis Field.
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