CANTON, Ohio – The West Liberty University women's soccer team dropped a 3-1 decision to Malone here Tuesday in a non-conference match played at Canton Central Catholic High School.
    Coach Barry Christmas' Hilltoppers (0-2-1) found themselves in an early hole when Madeline Ault ripped home a laser from outside the box off a long ball from Alenna Bible to put the Pioneers (1-1-0) on top in the 25th minute.
    Malone pushed the lead to 2-0 in the 36th minute when WLU keeper Lauren Hartnell saved a shot by the hosts' Kirsten Hilty only to see Amanda Kinsey send in the rebound.
    West Liberty - which controlled the run of play for long stretches and outshot the Pioneers by a 9-4 margin in the opening 45 - finally broke through in the 41st minute.
    That's when Makayla Gammon got on the end of a long pass from Cate Calissie and lofted a shot over the head of MU keeper McKenzie Chappell, trimming the margin to 2-1 at intermission.
    The Black and Gold had some chances in the second half but it was Malone that scored the lone goal of the final 45. That came in the 78th minute when Kassidy Hannum headed home a well-struck corner from Alexa Langenfeld to conclude the scoring.
    West Liberty outshot the Pioneers, 12-8, for the game but Chappell's 5 saves proved to be the difference. Hartnell was charted with 3 saves in net for the Hilltoppers.
    The Lady Hilltoppers return home to open their Mountain East Conference schedule on Sunday when Notre Dame (Ohio) visits the West Liberty Soccer Complex for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
  West Liberty                                       1  0 – 1
Malone                                                  2  1 – 3      MU: Madeline Ault (Alenna Bible), 24:34
     MU: Amanda Kinsey (Kirsten Hilty), 35:48
     WLU: Makayla Gammon (Cate Calissie), 40:37      MU: Kassidy Hannum (Alexa Langenfeld), 77:54      Shots: West Liberty 12, Malone 8
     Saves: West Liberty 3 (Lauren Hartnell 3), Malone 5 (McKenzie Chappell 5)
     Corners: West Liberty 3, Malone 2
A: 65