The Hesston College women's soccer team played a pair of games in Iowa over the weekend against Faith Baptist Bible College (NCCAA) and Buena Vista University (NCAA DIII). The Larks played to a 1-1 draw with Faith Baptist on Saturday (Aug. 30) before dropping a clost match to Buena Vista on Sunday (Aug. 31), 2-1.

Hesston College 1, Faith Baptist 1

Hesston College battled Faith Baptist Bible to a 1-1 draw on Saturday afternoon in Ankeny, Iowa, in a match that saw the Larks dominate possession and shot opportunities but fall just short of securing the win. The game began with early pressure from Faith Baptist, who struck first in the fourth minute when Annalis Benson finished a feed from Emma Boldt to put the home team ahead 1-0. Hesston responded by relentlessly attacking, outshooting Faith 13-4 in the first half, but goalkeeper Megan Yuan kept the Larks off the board with six saves before the break. Hesston's defense, anchored by keeper Keira Rankin—who made two first-half saves—held strong after the early goal, limiting Faith to just one more shot before halftime.

In the second half, Hesston continued to press, and the breakthrough finally came in the 66th minute. Brooklyn Paskett found Lissette Tovar, who buried the equalizer to make it 1-1. Tovar was a constant offensive threat, leading all players with seven shots—four on target—and the lone goal for the Larks. Paskett contributed four shots and the assist, while Matilda Bautista added four shots of her own. The Larks maintained heavy offensive pressure, outshooting Faith 12-1 in the second half and forcing Yuan into another four saves, but the go-ahead goal never materialized.

Hesston finished with a commanding 25-5 shot advantage and an 11-3 edge in shots on goal. Rankin played the full 90 minutes in net, facing just three shots on goal and making two saves.

Hesston College 1, Buena Vista 2

Hesston College women's soccer dropped a tightly contested road match to Buena Vista University, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon in Storm Lake, Iowa. The game began as a defensive battle, with both teams managing just a pair of first-half shots. Hesston's back line, anchored by Brooke Tafoya, Cecilia Solis, Emilie Romero and Neveah Bowman, held the Beavers scoreless through the opening 45 minutes, while goalkeeper Ashleigh Williams made a key save late in the first half to keep it level at 0-0. The Larks' lone first-half shot came from Trinity Garcia in the 45th minute, forcing a save from BVU's Maia Jaroch.

The second half brought more attacking action, and Hesston struck first in the 59th minute when midfielder Kristyn Oliver buried her only shot of the match into the back of the net for her first goal of the season. Williams preserved the lead with another save in the 52nd minute, but the Beavers ramped up their pressure, outshooting the Larks 5-1 in the period. The hosts finally broke through in the 84th minute as Bridgget Gonzalez scored the equalizer. Just over two minutes later, BVU's Bailey Gibbons netted the game-winner off an assist from Addison Baucom.

Hesston was efficient on offense, converting one of its two total shots into a goal. Williams finished with one save on three shots on goal faced.

The Larks will look to bounce back against Sterling College on Thursday (Sep. 4). Kickoff is slated for 2 p.m. in Sterling.