St. Ambrose got as close as one goal twice late in the fourth quarter but couldn't get past a slow start to the game and find the tying goal Saturday afternoon in Davenport. The Bees fell 11-9 to No. 8 Missouri Baptist at the St. Vincent's Athletic Complex.

A Maddie Wiltrout goal with 5:34 remaining in the fourth cut the Spartan lead to 9-8, but the visitors would push the lead back to two with a goal from Lydia Cornett two minutes later. The Bees had life when Wiltrout found the back of the net again with 2:29 left to make it 10-9 Missouri Baptist, but the Spartans scored with 1:11 to go to claim the victory. 

SAU found themselves down early as Missouri Baptist took a 4-0 lead with 22 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Wiltrout got the Bees on the board, scoring with three seconds left to make it 4-1 heading into the second period. The Spartans pushed their lead back to four early in the second with a goal from MacKaylee Miller. Mackenzie Zions found the back of the net with 5:29 left until half to make it 5-2. Morgan Curzon then made a spectacular play for SAU; she forced Missouri Baptist into a failed clear by causing a turnover then scooped up the ball and put it past the keeper for a 5-3 score with 4:34 to go in the second. The visitors would respond just over a minute later to take a three-goal lead into the break. 

The Bees cut into the Spartans lead early in the third with Anabelle Brown finding Curzon to make it 6-4, but a goal from Chayleb Deves pushed the lead back to three with 10:19 to go in the frame. Audrey Warner got one back for the home team, scoring on a free position shot, but Missouri Baptist scored on a free position shot as well to make it 8-5 with 5:13 left. The visitors would add a late man-up goal to take a four-goal lead heading into the fourth. 

St. Ambrose got goals from Wiltrout and Warner just 35 seconds apart to start the fourth to make it 9-7 Missouri Baptist with 12:16 left in the game. Wiltrout would make it a 3-0 run for the Bees with her goal at 5:34, but SAU would not be able to find the tying score. 

Wiltrout led the Bees with four goals, and Curzon and Warner each had two. Zions was the other goal scorer for St. Ambrose. Brown had two assists and Delaney Austad one. Maggie Samson was credited with five saves. 

SAU will face another tough task as they travel to No. 10 Georgetown College on March 21st. Game time is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Videos courtesy of SAUtv

Maddie Wiltrout cuts into the Missouri Baptist lead, making it 9-6 Spartans. 

Delaney Austad finds Wiltrout to make it 9-8 Spartans. 

Wiltrout makes it 10-9 Spartans after a free position goal.