PITTSBURG - Senior midfielder
Macy Malik scored the game winning goal for Pittsburg State University against the Missouri Western State University Griffons, Sunday (Oct. 18) at the Gorilla Soccer Pitch on Senior Day.
Malik along with fellow seniors;
Ann Boehnlein,
Ryann Caruth,
Dylann Ehegartner,
Avianna Gonzalez,
Abby Hoffman,
Shayla Hunt and
Sabrina Schilt were honored prematch.
For No. 8 Pittsburg State (12-0-4, 6-0-4 MIAA) the 1-0 win gives them 22 points in the MIAA standings to remain tied with Washburn for second, as Central Missouri with 23 points and a game in hand is the conference leader. The win also marks the first time the Gorillas have navigated through a regular season without suffering a loss at home, going 8-0-1 with the lone tie being a 0-0 result. Missouri Western (7-3-5, 4-3-2 MIAA) with 14 points ends the day in sixth among conference standings.
Malik made it 1-0 at 20:21 from a half volley right footed shot near the middle of the 18-yard box line, the shot beat a diving Morgan Byrd and nestled into the lower left side corner of the goal. Fellow senior,
Ryann Caruth was credited with an assist on the goal. Caruth at 51:01 almost made it 2-0 after a breakaway run by the forward created a 1v1 with Boyd but a well defended shot within the six-yard box maintained the 1-0 scoreline.
For the match, Pittsburg State fired off 23 shots, 10 of which were on goal with six corner kicks taken. Caruth led the match with three shots on goal and alongside Malik and Hoffman, each senior fired off four shots.
Jocelyn Kramar notched her 10th solo shutout of the season with one save. Byrd for MWSU collected a career-high nine saves.
Up next for Pitt State will be the final week of the regular season for the team, beginning with a trip to Joplin, Mo., to play the Missouri Southern State University Lions at 7:30 p.m. (CT) on Friday (Oct. 23) before traveling up to Warrensburg, Mo., on Sunday (Oct. 25) for a 1:00 p.m. kick at the South Recreation Complex.
