STEPHENVILLE, Texas – In a game where it felt closer than the final score, Tarleton State Women's Soccer fell, 3-1, in its penultimate home game of the season to California Baptist at the Tarleton Soccer Complex on Thursday night.
 
The Lancer, who have already clinched a spot in next week's WAC Tournament improve to 10-1-6 overall, 5-0-3 in the WAC and the Texans fall to 4-11-3, 1-6-1.
 
Mikayla Kendall made multiple spectacular saves finishing the night with 10.
 
Avery Harr found the back of the next for the third time this season off a pass from Macie Witter in the tail-end of the first half.
 
The Lancers struck first after a scoreless first 15 minutes of play. After a free kick caused the ball to go back-and-forth, Morgan Witz headed the loose ball toward the center of the box where Jayden Ramirez's right foot put the ball in the back of the net to give CBU a 1-0 lead.
 
California Baptist notched their second goal of the night as Witz found herself on the scoring end this time from a cross by Sonja Lux.
 
Harr put the Texans on the board in the 36^th minute of the half. Witter started the play on a throw in from the bench side and was second to touch on a cross sent near the right corner of the goal where a sliding Harr directed it into the back of the net to cut the deficit to 2-1, where it stayed at the half.
 
Just three minutes into the second half, Nicole Fels seemed to have tied the game on a lightning kick from the top right corner of the box, but the Lancer keeper leaped to just get the tips of her fingers on the ball to send it over the crossbar.
 
Less than two minutes later, Lexi Gonzales fired a no-doubter than shot past Noa Schumacher in goal, but it found the left post for Tarleton's second near-miss in the first five minutes of second half action.
 
Kendall found herself at the center of attention in the half taking a pair of back-to-back shots two separate instances. Her second pair of back-to-back saves required her to tip a header on the left side of the goal before hurrying to the other post to foil a sure-goal opportunity for the Lancers.
 
California Baptist was able to push a third goal past Kendall in the 67^th minute when Ava Westlund's shot crossed the white line from a Kaylee Hauck pass.
 
With five minutes on the clock, Jenaya Brown almost cut the deficit in half on a near goal less than five yards in front of the box. Brown was point blank in front of Schumacher but the Lancer keeper was able to get her hands on it.
 
The Lancers outshot the Texans 27-7 and 13-4 on goal. For the seventh time this season, Tarleton had fewer fouls than their WAC opponent.
 
Tarleton State will close the season on Sunday against Grand Canyon at 1 p.m. Prior to the game, the Texans will host a special Senior Day presentation honoring Macie Witter after a pair of seasons in Stephenville to close her collegiate career.