Box Score St. Louis, Mo. - The Columbia women's soccer team allowed a pair of second half goals and fell to Missouri Baptist University 2-1 today in a matchup of the top two teams in the American Midwest Conference. The Cougars drop to 5-2-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play with the defeat, while the Spartans improve to 5-3-1 and 3-0 in the AMC.

The two teams combined for 14 shots in the opening period, with the lone score coming on a goal by senior Stephanie Hale from 30 yards out in the 18^th minute. Sandra Mendonca picked up the assist on the play. Columbia took a 1-0 advantage into the halftime break and held the lead during the start of the second half before a goal by Missouri Baptist's Ashly Wiedenhoffer at the 57:27 mark evened the score at 1-1. Wiedenhoffer would give the Spartans the lead less than six minutes later with her second goal of the match in the 63^rd minute. The Cougars threatened with six shots over the remainder of regulation, but Missouri Baptist was able to hold on down the stretch for the comeback victory.

Columbia outshot the Spartans 17-10 in the contest, with Stephanie Hale posting a game-high five shots. Junior Erica Ramirez had four saves in goal for the Cougars.

On Monday, Columbia senior Elise Castellanos was named the AMC's Defensive Player of the Week for her efforts last week in two shutout victories over conference opponents Benedictine University-Springfield (Ill.) and Harris-Stowe State (Mo.) University. For the year, Castellanos has anchored a Cougar defense that has produced an AMC-best five shutouts. She joins Ramirez as the second Columbia player to win the award this season.

The Cougars will return home to face crosstown foe Stephens (Mo.) College on Thursday, September 26^th. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at R. Marvin Owens Soccer Stadium.