Wildcats Fall to Friends, 4-0 in Non-Conference Finale

BALDWIN CITY - Playing at home for just the second time this year, Baker women's soccer dropped its final non-conference match of the regular season to in-state opponent Friends by a score of 4-0 on Wednesday night at Hartley Field.

Despite firing off 10 shots in the game, the Wildcats couldn't find the back of the net for the second straight game with four of their shots coming on goal. Meanwhile, the Falcons scored three goals in the first half and added their fourth on a PK in the second half.

"We're definitely in a funk right now and haven't given our 100% the last two games," said Baker head coach Sara Matthews. "I've seen us play hard and with passion and tonight wasn't it, as a whole. Our game was a combo of good play at times, while too many other moments were lackadaisical or panicked. Credit to Friends, they outworked us tonight. However, our lack of team effort gave up moments that led to goals defensively and, offensively, we didn't create our own luck."

With Friends winning the shot battle, 12-10, Baker held the advantage in corner kicks, 5-3 with four of its corner set pieces coming in the latter period.

Falcons forward Keily Larosee opened up the first of her three goals in the match with a high-arching header that sailed over the outstretched hand of BU keeper Avery Young in the game's first 10 minutes. She knocked in her second goal in the 21st minute, while teammate Lina Willemsen gave Friends a 3-0 halftime lead with a goal in the 37th.

In the second half, Larosee completed the hat trick with her first PK attempt of the season after a BU penalty in the 59th minute.

Emma Schieber challenged the Falcons keeper with a rocket from the top of the box early in the second half, while Stella Jameson, Emeil Bennett and Darcy Cato each registered a shot within the first 10 minutes out of the break as well. Cato finished as the team leader in shots with three in the match, including one that came on goal back in the game's opening minute.

"Conference starts Saturday and our young squad has to figure out the pace and effort of college ball," added Matthews. "It has to be consistently faster, more composed and more aggressive. We will continue to focus on those areas these next two days as we prepare for William Penn."

After splitting the first four matches of the season, Baker closes out the non-conference with a 2-4 record and will head to William Penn on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the first match of Heart of America play. Saturday's kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

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