LOUISVILLE, Ky. -   Mississippi University for Women women's soccer scored first, but host Spalding University ended up scoring more often in a 3-2 road loss in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC) opener for both teams. The Owls fell to 1-3-0 (0-1-0 SLIAC), while the Golden Eagles upped their record to 2-3-1 (1-0-0 SLIAC).
 
As things started out, The W appeared it might cruise to its first-ever SLIAC win. That's because junior transfer Carlie Giles (Brandon, Miss./Hinds CC) had a pair of first-half goals for the Owls. Giles first goal came from 25 yards in the center of the field and sending the ball to the top-left corner, assisted by Mia Mauro, making it 1-0 in the 6th minute. In the 15th minute, Giles headed in a corner kick from Kiersten Taylor that upped the margin to 2-0 in favor of the visiting Owls.
 
That score stood for the first half.
 
However, in the second stanza, it was all Spalding. The Golden Eagles scored three unanswered goals – 57th, 63rd, and 71st minutes - in the final 45 minutes.
 
MUW junior goalkeeper Alex Moon (Poynton with Worth, England/Colin CC) was out-of-this-world in the first half making six saves, many of the highlight reel variety. But in the second half, Moon came down to earth, as she was touched up for all three goals and made two saves.
 
Giles accounted for three of The W's four total shot attempts, putting all three on-goal. Olivia Deslatte had MUW's other shot attempt.
 
The Golden Eagles' statistical advantage – 21-4 in total shots and 8-4 in corner kicks – belied the closeness of the match.
 
The W women will look to stop a three-match skid on Sunday (Sept. 24), when it travels to Rhodes College for a non-conference contest. Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. in Memphis.