QUINCY, Ill. – The Missouri S&T women's soccer team opened up Great Lakes Valley Conference action against Quincy University Sunday afternoon at Legends Stadium. The Miners (1-2-0, 0-1-0) scored twice in the early going and led into the half before the Hawks (2-1-0, 1-0-0) scored three unanswered goals to take the lead. The Miners scored the equalizer with just under 15 minutes to play, but QU managed to find the net twice in under 30 seconds in the closing minutes to record a 5-3 win.
 
The Miners wasted no time getting the scoring started, as Lilly Chung found the net in the second minute on a beautiful ball from Sydney Gratz (Geneva, IL/Geneva). Just moments after play resumed, S&T scored their second goal in the first four minutes of play, with Melanie Kulig (Belleville, IL/Belleville West) finding the lower left corner after the ball caromed off a Quincy defender following a Missouri S&T free kick.
 
Quincy had a chance to get on the board in a frenetic sequence in front of the Miners' goal in the 19th minute. After Kristin Steins (Ballwin, MO/Parkway South) made a diving save on the initial shot attempt, the ball remained free near the goal as a scramble for possession ensued. QU came up with the ball and managed another shot attempt but again Steins was able to make the save once more before clearing the ball back downfield.
 
Heading into the intermission, S&T held a 10-4 advantage in shots, including five from Sydney Gratz (Geneva, IL/Geneva), to lead 2-0.
 
Much like S&T scored quickly to begin the match, Quincy got off to a quick start as the second half got underway. After S&T played the opening kick into their end of the field, the Hawks brought the pressure and gained possession. Lexi Porchia then crossed the ball high into the box over the arms of Steins, where Aliyah Rottger headed a shot in after racing in behind the S&T defense to make it 2-1.
 
Quincy netted the equalizer in the 59th minute, as they managed to get free in transition and see Jessica Felix find the lower left corner in traffic on a ball from Rottger.
 
The Hawks scored their third goal of the half in the 64th minute to take a 3-2 lead when Lauren Crane won a footrace against Steins, chipping the ball over the diving attempt by Steins to snare the loose ball to give Quincy their first lead of the day.
 
S&T battled back and tied the score in the 76th minute. Gratz's seventh shot attempt of the day finally found its mark from distance, soaring over the reach of the keeper from nearly 20 yards out to make it a 3-3 game.
 
That score held until the closing moments of regulation, when Quincy was able to score back-to-back goals in the 86th minute in the span of less than 30 seconds to go back ahead for good, winning a high-scoring affair in the conference opener for both teams by a final score of 5-3.
 
S&T held a 14-13 edge in shots in the match and a 5-4 advantage in saves over the course of the afternoon. Gratz led all players with seven shot attempts, while Danielle Hopkins (Naperville, IL/Neuqua Valley) finished the game with three.
 
The Miners return to action next Friday September 17 at 5 P.M., as they head west for a GLVC road match against William Jewell.