Early conceded goal does the damage in Pride's 1-0 loss to St. Ambrose

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Continuing their season-opening homestand, the Clarke University women's soccer team suffered their first loss of 2025 in a 1-0 defeat to St. Ambrose University on Wednesday night at Burrows Field.

For a majority of the game, the field felt tilted towards the Pride's attacking third but a costly turnover in their defensive third early in the game would lead to the game's lone goal when Mia Hefner of the Fighting Bees was able to find space on the right side where she would loft a ball under the cross bar and inside of the far post to make it 1-0 just in the eighth minute of the game.

That shot would go down as SAU's lone shot on goal over the entirety of the game as Clarke would go on to outshoot St. Ambrose 15-2 over the remainder of the game but Fighting Bees' goalkeeper Ella Oscarsson was up to the task, making all seven saves she needed to produce her first shutout of the season.

The shot leader for the Pride was freshman Audrey McKenna as she took four total shots, three of which went on frame with Elena Kapparos and Jayden Black each taking three shots, and Laryssa Pritchard and Hailey Packer both taking two shots, with one going on goal.

Clarke would also take six corner kicks, three in each half, with St. Ambrose also committing less fouls in a game where the officials let the teams play for the most part, only calling nine total fouls, six on the Pride and three on SAU.

For the third-straight game to start the season, CU goalkeepers in senior Faith Krapfl and freshman Abigail Turley split time between the first and second half with Krapfl getting the start and Turley playing the second 45 minutes as Turley didn't see a single shot on goal in her time in net.

Pride women's soccer will close out this season-opening homestand on Saturday afternoon when they host Saint Xavier University for a 3:30 p.m. CT scheduled kickoff against the Cougars at Burrows Field.