Wildcats Fall in Hard-Fought Battle with (RV) MACU, 3-2

BALDWIN CITY - The Baker women's soccer team came up just short in its Saturday afternoon outing against (RV) Mid-American Christian, falling 3-2 to the Evangels in a tightly contested matchup here at Hartley Field.

MACU controlled much of the attacking pressure, outshooting Baker 22-10 and holding a 7-2 edge in corner kicks. BU goalkeeper Sophia Holloway turned in a strong performance despite the loss, recording a career-high 12 saves.

The Wildcats struck quickly in the fifth minute when junior Sidney Claeys buried her second goal in as many games, giving Baker an early 1-0 lead. MACU answered right before halftime with a 44th-minute equalizer, sending the teams into the break deadlocked at 1-1

The Evangels wasted little time after the restart, scoring in the 48th minute to go in front 2-1. Baker responded in the 63rd minute when newcomer Rihanna Blanchard scored her first career goal to bring the Wildcats level once again.

MACU found the eventual game-winner in the 74th minute and nearly saw its lead erased late, as Baker earned a penalty kick in the 84th minute. The Wildcats' chance to tie sailed high though, and the Evangels held on for the 3-2 victory.

Blanchard, who is also a member of the Baker women's basketball team, scored in her second career soccer game after playing 46 minutes in Thursday's season opener. The junior from St. Louis, Mo. averaged seven points per game and made 21 starts in her first year for the Wildcats during the 2024-25 basketball season.

Claeys, who had one goal in 18 games played last year, has scored in back-to-back games now with both of her goals coming in the first 11 minutes of each contest. She has tallied six shots in her first two matches and has had two of her three shots on goal find the back of the net.

Darcy Cato helped facilitate both goals for BU, slipping a pass across the front of the net that found the boot of Claeys, who popped it over the head of the MACU keeper and into the goal. Then, for Blanchard's goal, she was able to come up with a bouncing ball in the Evangels box and played it over to Stella Jameson, who one-touched it over to Blanchard for the score.

Baker moves to 0-2-0 on the young season and will take almost a week off before squaring off against Ottawa on Friday, August 29 at 5 p.m. in Baldwin City.

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