By Matt Barker, Sports Information Director

HENDERSON, Tenn. - The Freed-Hardeman Lady Lion soccer team came out firing Thursday night against Lindenwood University-Belleville with two early goals by Taylor Jenkins and Sydney Dubiel; however a hat trick by Lindenwood Belleville's Jessika Stiehr would prove to be too much as the Lady Lions dropped their fifth conference match of the season at the Josh Riley Soccer Complex.

The Lady Lions (7-6-2, 4-5-2 AMC) began their scoring drive in the third minute following a Lindenwood foul on Nina Carolissen, which would result in a free kick. Carolissen would take the free kick and fire in a shot to the left side of the goal that bounced off the hands of Lynx keeper Luisa Santillan. Taylor Jenkins would be right there to pick up the pieces and chip in the rebound shot off the deflection to give FHU their first goal of the match.

FHU would continue their scoring drive in the 14th minute as Lady Lion defender Melissa Ross would intercept a pass at midfield and send in a long pass to Sydney Dubiel in FHU territory. Dubiel was able to get behind the Lynx defense on the left side of the field and weave her way through two defenders before firing the ball to the left side of the net to give FHU their second goal of the match.

The Lady Lions would continue to have success keeping Lindenwood Belleville (10-7, 8-3 AMC) out of scoring range until the 37th minute when FHU's defense was called for a foul after Lynx midfielder Jessika Stiehr was clipped inside the box. Stiehr would get the nod to take the penalty kick and would fire it to the right side of the goal just past FHU keeper Lauren Cherry.

Stiehr would not be satisfied with just the one goal in the half as she would add a second goal moments later in the 43rd minute after catching the Lady Lion defense out of position. Stiehr would receive a long pass from midfield near the sideline and would dribble the ball past multiple FHU defenders to sneak it past Cherry as she dove to her right. The late score in the half would even things up at two apiece.

The Lady Lion defense would keep the Lynx offense in check for a majority of the second half; however, it was just a matter of time before Stiehr would get loose. The lone goal in the second half would come in the 76th minute as Stiehr would clear the ball out of the cluttered box and fire a goal in the left side of the net to complete her hat trick.

The third goal in the match would prove to be too much for the Lady Lions as they would not be given any more opportunities to equalize the match.

Lindenwood-Belleville out-shot the Lady Lions 15-5 in the match and attempted nine shots on goal. The Lady Lions only mustered five shots and four shots on goal in the match. Jessika Stiehr led the Lynx in total offense with five shots, four shots on goal and three goals in the match.

Taylor Jenkins and Sydney Dubiel led FHU in total offense contributing both of the goals for the Lady Lions in the match.

With the loss, the Lady Lions fall to 7-6-2 on the season and 4-5-2 in conference play.

NEXT UP: The Lady Lions will play their final regular-season match of the season on Friday as they host Stephens (Mo.) College for Senior Night beginning at 5:00 PM at the Josh Riley Soccer Complex.