TOPEKA, Kan. -- The Washburn Lady Blues broke open a tie game with a late goal as SBU soccer lost a high-scoring affair, 4-3, on Saturday evening.

Nycole Henderson connected on an unassisted goal in the 17th minute, to give the Bearcats an early 1-0 lead. The freshman forward earned her first start in the game, and took advantage, with the first goal of her collegiate career. The lead wouldn't last, however, as Washburn's Leah Talley scored in the 33rd minute to tie up the game before the end of the first half.

Although both teams had already put one in the back of the net after the first half, the game was a bit of a defensive struggle. Only five shots were taken between the two teams at the halfway mark, with SBU out-shooting the Lady Blues, 3-2.

The action picked up in the second half, as Washburn took a 2-1 lead in the 59th minute on Lauren Henry's shot to the lower left-hand corner of the goal that got by Bearcat keeper Megan Link. About six minutes later, Kelly Issac tied the game for SBU on a free kick about 35 yards away. The goal was Issac's third of the season so far.

Washburn's Talley was not done yet, however, and gave her team another one goal lead in the 74th minute. The 'Cats would answer back again in the 77th minute, when Heidi Lewis earned her first goal of the season off a rebound to tie the game at 3-3.

With just under five minutes left in the game, however, Talley earned the hat trick when she put the Lady Blues up for good with her third goal of the match. Washburn's Tia Stovall earned the assist on each of Talley's goals.

The Lady Blues outshot the Bearcats by the narrow margin of 6-5 in the second half, although SBU had more shots on goal. The Bearcats also picked up three yellow cards during the match, all coming within a ten minute period in the second half.

With the loss, SBU falls to 5-2-1 on the season, and 3-2 in the MIAA. Washburn reaches the .500 mark for their season at 4-4 overall, and 2-3 in conference play. The Bearcats finish up their four-game conference road trip Thursday, October 1 at Nebraska-Omaha, before coming back home Saturday, October 3, to face off against Truman State. Kickoff in Omaha is scheduled for 4:00 pm, while the game against Truman will start at noon.