The Park University women's soccer program began conference action with No. 25 Missouri Valley College on Saturday evening and after a tightly contested game, the Vikings came out on top 2-1.

Entering this Heart of America Athletic Conference opening match, Park was 3-0-1, while the Vikings were 1-3-2 with three matches played among NAIA Top 10 teams.

It was only 7:44 into the first half when Missouri Valley got on the board with an unassisted goal from Marta Carrasco.

It was 12 shots to four in the first half for Missouri Valley and the Pirates trailed 1-nil at the half.

The Pirates came into their own in the second half and a foul just outside the box allowed Patrycia Kozak to find the back of the net off a free kick from the left corner of the box. Threading the goal through gave Kozak her third goal in a Pirate uniform this season.

Park showed the kind of team they have in the second half against a NAIA Top 25 opponent, matching the Vikings in shots with four. Corner kick numbers heavily favored the Vikings with five compared to none for Park.

The Vikings were on the attack in the 63^rd minute and Ashely Arribas made her way through the Pirate defense off the leading pass from Miluska Guevara.

Park's Felicitas Mueller earned four saves on the match, while Missouri Valley's Lola Benitez had three.

It's not an easy road from here as Park travels to Olathe, Kan. to matchup with No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene University on Tuesday, September 19 at 2:30pm. WATCH HERE

Box Score