Walls' Game-Winner and Dominant Defense Shut Down Missouri State

Sunday, October 4

Bowling Green, Ky.

12 PM CT

Western Kentucky University

8-1-4, 2-1-0

Missouri State

3-7-2, 0-2-1

Team	1	2	Final F
Missouri St.	0	0	0
WKU	0	1	1

WKU Hilltoppers Defender Alyvia Walls (14) I Photo by Liam Downie

Walls' Game-Winner and Dominant Defense Shut Down Missouri State

10/4/2026 3:49:00 PM | Women's Soccer

Box Score Jason Neidell postgame interview Alyvia Walls postgame interview

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Hilltoppers (8-1-4) shut out CUSA opponent Missouri State, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at the WKU Soccer Complex. The Hilltoppers move to 2-1-0 in CUSA play. Midfielder Alyvia Walls scored the game-winning goal in the match.

HOW IT HAPPENED
The match proved to be a physical, defensive battle from the start, with neither team able to find the back of the net in a scoreless opening half. Maggie Bellair recorded the first shot on goal for the Hilltoppers in the sixth minute, forcing a save from the Missouri State goalkeeper. WKU continued to create pressure in the attacking third, with Bellair, Danielle Lewin and Georgia Liapis each challenging the Bears' defense. The Tops nearly broke through in the 19th minute when a Missouri State foul right outside the box resulted in a free kick for WKU, but April McDonald's attempt was saved by the goalkeeper to keep the match scoreless. WKU continued to control the attacking chances throughout the remainder of the half, recording eight shots compared to Missouri State's three, but the Hilltoppers entered halftime tied 0-0.

WKU came out in the second half still searching for the opening goal. Forwards Makenna Egan and Danielle Lewin both recorded shots on goal in the opening five minutes, but neither found the back of the net. In the 55th minute, Egan sent the ball into the box, finding Lewin, who connected with Alyvia Walls. Walls quickly fired the ball into the bottom-left corner of the net to put the Tops on the board. Her goal proved to be the game-winner, as Missouri State made one final push to even the score in the 82nd minute, but Mia Riddick came up with the save to secure the shutout and the win for the Hilltoppers.

QUOTABLE
"I feel like today was our best performance of the year," said Head Coach Jason Neidell. "I feel like from start to finish we were committed to the game and we were focused. There have been some games when we have had lapses in momentum, or we have made mistakes, and I thought we were just really clean today. Our backs, midfielders, and forwards were all clean. We played with intensity and focus. It was our most complete game of the season."

"We were getting the ball up to our nines really well," said junior midfielder Alyvia Walls on her game-winner. "I was always underneath them, so being in the right spot to get the ball from the nines and just rip it one time was perfect."

NOTABLES

This was the Hilltoppers' second straight CUSA win of the week and season
WKU outshot the Bears 17-5, with Missouri State only recording one shot on goal
The shutout was the Hilltoppers' ninth of the season
Alyvia Walls' game-winner was her first goal of the season and the third of her career
Makenna Egan led the offense with four shots in the match
The assist by Danielle Lewin marked her fourth of the season, tying for the team and CUSA high.
Mia Riddick recorded her seventh shutout of the season, tying her for eighth in WKU program history
Makenna Egan, Alaina Nugier, and Kora Kipley all played the full 90 minutes of the match in the field
WKU moves to 2-2-0 against Missouri State all-time