CANTON, Mo. — The Graceland University women's soccer team came up short in a back-and-forth contest on Wednesday night, falling 4-3 to Culver-Stockton College in a tightly contested Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) match at Poulton Stadium.

With the loss, Graceland drops to 4-7-3 overall and 1-6-2 in conference play, while Culver-Stockton improves to 6-7-2 overall and 3-6-1 in HAAC competition.

The Yellowjackets outshot the Wildcats 17-10, including an 8-4 advantage in shots on goal, but Culver-Stockton's efficiency in the final third proved decisive. Graceland generated five corner kicks and won the possession battle for long stretches, but defensive miscues and timely finishing from the hosts ultimately decided the match.

The scoring opened in the 11th minute when Lexi Clark put Culver-Stockton ahead, finishing a pass from Alayna Chandler-Guti to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. Graceland responded in the 38th minute, as Wissal Rafik capitalized on a loose ball and scored unassisted to level the match at 1-1.

The second half began with a setback for Graceland as Rian Moore converted a penalty kick just 60 seconds after the restart. Chandler-Guti then added an unassisted goal in the 66th minute to give Culver-Stockton a two-goal cushion at 3-1.

Graceland responded with urgency, pulling one back in the 71st minute when Sierra Flores struck from inside the box to make it 3-2. Less than two minutes later, Chloe Montera found the equalizer, finishing a cross from Mariam El Mir Tartou in the 73rd minute to bring the score to 3-3.

With the momentum favoring Graceland, the Wildcats found the eventual game-winner in the 87th minute. Moore tallied her second of the night, assisted by both Clark and Chandler-Guti, sealing the 4-3 result for Culver-Stockton.

"We put ourselves in a good position with the way we responded after going down 3-1," said head coach Randall Porter. "Our execution in the attacking third was solid, and I'm proud of how we fought back to level it. But when you concede four goals on the road, it's always going to be tough to get a result in this league. We have to clean things up defensively."

Graceland was led offensively by Montera, Flores, and Rafik, who each scored one goal. El Mir Tartou recorded the team's lone assist on the evening. Caitlin Lageman registered a team-high five total shots, including two on target. Montera and Rafik each logged two shots on goal.

In goal, Maggie Peterson made four saves on eight shots on frame over 90 minutes. Culver-Stockton's Sam Link earned the win with five saves, also facing eight shots on target.

Graceland committed 10 fouls compared to Culver-Stockton's nine. The Yellowjackets were issued three yellow cards — one to Peterson and two team-related infractions — while the Wildcats were shown three yellows as well.

The Wildcats were led by Moore, who scored twice and now has eight goals on the season. Chandler-Guti contributed a goal and two assists, while Clark finished with one goal and one assist.

Box Score Summary:

• Final Score: Culver-Stockton 4, Graceland 3

• Goals:

  • 10:35 – CUL – Lexi Clark (Assist: Chandler-Guti)

  • 37:05 – GRAC – Wissal Rafik (Unassisted)

  • 46:00 – CUL – Rian Moore (Penalty kick)

  • 65:58 – CUL – Alayna Chandler-Guti (Unassisted)

  • 70:09 – GRAC – Sierra Flores (Unassisted)

  • 72:12 – GRAC – Chloe Montera (Assist: Mariam El Mir Tartou)

  • 86:45 – CUL – Rian Moore (Assists: Clark, Chandler-Guti)

• Shots: Graceland 17, Culver-Stockton 10

• Shots on Goal: Graceland 8, Culver-Stockton 8

• Saves: Peterson (GRAC) 4, Link (CUL) 5

• Corner Kicks: Graceland 5, Culver-Stockton 4

• Fouls: Graceland 10, Culver-Stockton 9

• Yellow Cards: GRAC – 3, CUL – 3

Graceland's bench played a role in maintaining tempo throughout the match, with several timely substitutions bringing fresh legs into the midfield and attacking third. Notable contributions came from Keylannah Gutierrez, Grace Eltiste, and Tessa Cook, while Angelika Laginova recorded one shot on goal in her appearance.

Despite the loss, Graceland demonstrated consistent attacking rhythm, especially in the second half, with nine total shots and four corners after halftime. The Yellowjackets continued to show growth in midfield control and ball distribution, particularly through the work of El Mir Tartou and Lageman.

This result marks the fourth time this season that Graceland has lost a match by a single goal, further underscoring the fine margins in conference play. The Yellowjackets remain committed to closing those gaps and finishing the season strong.

NEXT MATCH
Graceland returns home for a conference matchup on Saturday, Oct. 18, hosting Baker University (KS). Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. CDT at the Rasmussen Sports Complex in Lamoni, Iowa.

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