Box Score | Season Stats

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Freshman forward Shonee Samia scored twice in the first half, which proved to be enough, as the SBU Bearcats defeated Washburn, 2-1. Four Bearcats recorded assists on Samia's goals, as the Queensland, Australia native logged just 59 minutes coming off the bench.

The match had a fairly slow tempo to start, as both teams combined for just three shots over the first fifteen minutes. SBU started to take control, and had three straight shots before Brittany Ready received a pass from Brenna Lacaillade and sent a cross in that Samia headed in for her first collegiate goal.

Less than five minutes later, Samia scored goal number two with a shot from the top of the box, assisted by midfielder Kelly Isaac and forward Ashley Creason. The Bearcats outshot the Lady Blues in the first half, 9-5, but Samia's two scores were the only shots on goal the entire match.

Washburn started to gain momentum in the second half, outshooting the Bearcats 9-3, and taking four corner kicks to SBU's none. The Lady Blues got within one in the 56th minute, when Rachel Hanson got a shot past the keeper, and had a chance at the tie in the 58th minute, when Lauren Henry took a shot that SBU's Megan Link tipped up into the crossbar. Link made six saves and faced 14 shots in her third win of the season.

"I think we're playing our best soccer yet," said head coach Rob Podeyn after the game. The Bearcats have gone 2-0-1 over their past three games, and sit tied for fourth place with the victory. Coach Podeyn knows there is still work to do. "We still aren't there yet. We had a second half like we did at Central [Missouri]. We went up two goals there; this time we held on, but it was closer than I would have liked."

SBU moves to 4-3-2 on the year, and 3-2-2 in the MIAA. The Bearcats will face Missouri Southern, currently ranked third in the conference, on Thursday, October 7, at 6 p.m. SBU's next home game is next Saturday, October 9, against Emporia State. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.