FULTON, Mo. – The Graceland University women's soccer team saw a two-goal lead vanish in the second half, falling 4-3 on the road to William Woods University in a Heart of America Athletic Conference (Heart) contest at the NCAC Soccer Complex.

With the result, Graceland moves to 3-4-2 overall and 0-3-1 in Heart play, while William Woods improves to 3-5-1 overall and 2-3-1 in the conference.

The Yellowjackets scored twice in the opening 15 minutes and extended their lead in the second half despite going down a player, but William Woods answered with three goals in the final 15 minutes to secure the comeback win.

First Half
Graceland dictated play early with sustained possession and pressing in the attacking third. Chloe Montera opened the scoring in the 12th minute, capitalizing on a defensive miscue for the 1-0 lead. Just two minutes later, Mariam El Mir Tartouri added a second goal in the 14th minute, giving Graceland a 2-0 advantage.

William Woods responded in the 19th minute when Bri Reynolds finished off a sequence assisted by Macie Parmer and Zoe Lockhert, trimming the deficit to 2-1.

The Yellowjackets entered halftime with a narrow advantage but had dominated statistically, holding an 11-3 edge in corner kicks and a 15-3 shot advantage over the Owls.

Second Half
Momentum shifted in the 51st minute when Mackenzie Melrose received a red card, forcing Graceland to play the remainder of the match with 10 players.

Despite the setback, Nuria Garcia restored a two-goal cushion in the 61st minute, scoring unassisted to put Graceland up 3-1.

From there, William Woods staged its rally. In the 76th minute, Reynolds struck for her second goal to make it 3-2. The Owls equalized in the 85th minute on a goal from KG Malefo, and Malefo delivered the decisive strike in the 90th minute, sealing the 4-3 result.

Team and Individual Statistics
Graceland produced consistent offense throughout, finishing with a 20-10 advantage in shots and 16-6 in shots on goal. The Yellowjackets also held an 11-1 margin in corner kicks.

William Woods made the most of its opportunities, converting four of its six shots on target. Goalkeeper Sierra Hahn collected 13 saves to preserve the Owls' victory.

For Graceland, Maggie Peterson played all 90 minutes in goal, facing six shots on frame and recording two saves.

Graceland Key Performers:

• Mariam El Mir Tartouri: 9 shots, 8 on goal, 1 goal.

• Chloe Montera: 2 shots, 2 on goal, 1 goal.

• Nuria Garcia: 1 shot, 1 on goal, 1 goal.

• Maggie Peterson (GK): 2 saves, 4 goals allowed.

William Woods Key Performers:

• Bri Reynolds: 2 goals, 2 shots on goal.

• KG Malefo: 2 goals, 4 shots, 2 on goal.

• Sierra Hahn (GK): 13 saves, 3 goals allowed.

Coach's Perspective
Head coach Randall Porter emphasized the positives despite the final score. "Today was a step in the right direction for what we are building towards - the conference meet in November. A lot of our athletes had big improvements from our last race and we're looking to continue building each subsequent race."

Scoring Summary

• 12th minute: Goal by Montera (Graceland leads 1-0).

• 14th minute: Goal by El Mir Tartouri (Graceland leads 2-0).

• 19th minute: Goal by Reynolds (Graceland leads 2-1).

• 61st minute: Goal by Garcia (Graceland leads 3-1).

• 76th minute: Goal by Reynolds (Graceland leads 3-2).

• 85th minute: Goal by Malefo (Match tied 3-3).

• 90th minute: Goal by Malefo (William Woods leads 4-3).

Team Records

• Graceland: 3-4-2 overall, 0-3-1 Heart

• William Woods: 3-5-1 overall, 2-3-1 Heart

Looking Ahead
The defeat leaves Graceland still searching for its first Heart victory. The Yellowjackets showed attacking depth with three different goal scorers and sustained pressure that generated 20 total shots. The team will look to build on those positives while addressing late-game defensive execution.

Next Match
Graceland returns to action on Wednesday, Sept. 24, traveling to face William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. CDT at Drost Field.

For more information on Graceland women's soccer and all of Graceland athletics, visit GUjackets.com.