BETHANY - On a hot and humid night in Bethany, the Southern Nazarene University women's soccer team got their 2019 regular season under way, but they did so short handed while welcoming in the Missouri Southern State University Lions. The Crimson Storm caught a couple of breaks, but SNU was able to find a bounce of their own to open the season with a win.

SNU (1-0) picked up a 60th minute goal off a broken play to take a 1-0 lead over MSSU (0-1), and the Lions were unable to solve emergency goalkeeper Amanda Bumann who posted a clean sheet in her SNU debut in goal, as SNU won the game 1-0.

MSSU appeared to get on the board in the first half, but the goal was wiped out on an offside play, and SNU was able to reorganize their defense to finish the half in a 0-0 tie. The game was a bit choppy, as both teams struggled at times to maintain possession, but in the 60th minute, SNU was able to break through. As MSSU goalkeeper Riley Laver attempted to come out to corral a loose ball, she collided with a teammate at the top of the box, and SNU's Delaney Stewart found the ball at her feet with no one between her and the goal. Stewart took a couple of touches toward the goal and then slid it home to give SNU a 1-0 lead. MSSU pressed late looking for the equalizer, and in the 90th minute, the Lions had a chance, but a the shot from Courtney Marten rang off the goalpost and SNU held on for the 1-0 win.

Bumann - normally a forward - earned the win and the shutout in goal, while Laver was saddled with the loss. SNU was out-shot 17-8 in the match, but Bumann made nine saves to seal the win. 

SNU will be back in action on Monday night when they head to nearby Edmond, Okla. to take on the University of Central Oklahoma (0-0-1) at 7 p.m.