AUSTIN, Texas — St. Edward's women's soccer found a second-half response against the nation's top-ranked team Wednesday evening, getting goals from SIERRA PADILLA and MADISON SPITZER in a 6-2 loss to Dallas Baptist at Lewis-Chen Family Field.
Padilla scored for the second consecutive match, and Spitzer added her first goal of the season as the Hilltoppers matched DBU's two goals over the final 45 minutes. The Patriots' four-goal first half proved decisive, ending St. Edward's four-match unbeaten run.
The Hilltoppers dropped to 4-8-4 overall and 4-5-3 in Lone Star Conference play. DBU remained unbeaten at 14-0-1 and 11-0-1 in conference competition.
St. Edward's generated the match's first opportunity, with Padilla forcing goalkeeper Josie Juvera into a save just 48 seconds after kickoff. DBU answered 40 seconds later when Leah Hurley scored following a blocked attempt by Sydney Hopper, ending the Hilltoppers' streak of four consecutive clean sheets.
Ashley Washburn assisted Kylar Coffman's goal in the 14th minute, then helped create another in the 35th when her blocked shot preceded Calla Schrock's finish. Erin Dull added a goal in the 41st minute to give the Patriots a 4-0 halftime lead.
St. Edward's produced more sustained attacking opportunities after the break, tripling its first-half shot total with six attempts over the final 45 minutes.
RAINEY SIMMONS had a shot blocked in the 51st minute, earning the Hilltoppers their first corner kick. Padilla broke through shortly afterward, scoring off an assist from DAYLAN NATES at 51:11 for her third goal of the season.
The Hilltoppers continued looking for openings, with Nates having an attempt blocked in the 58th minute and MADISON CRESWELL sending a shot wide less than three minutes later.
DBU restored its four-goal advantage through Hopper in the 62nd minute, but St. Edward's found another contribution from its bench down the stretch.
Spitzer scored in the 80th minute, combining with SIENA MUSKIVITCH and JISELL ZAVALETA DENOVA, who each earned an assist. The goal came less than 10 minutes after Spitzer entered the match and brought the score to 5-2.
Allie Allen added DBU's final goal in the 86th minute. PEYTON MEDINA, who entered in relief of DARIA SCHLUMBOHM for the final 12:37, followed with a save against Riley Olsen.
DBU finished with a 19-8 advantage in shots, including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal, and eight corner kicks to St. Edward's one. Padilla and Creswell led the Hilltoppers with two shots apiece. Schlumbohm recorded three saves, and Medina added one.
