The Missouri Reign battled tough against Lou Fusz Athletic, working a 1-1 draw at home at R Marvin Owens Stadium. 

Trailing 1-0 late in the second half, Danielle Buker found Ayanna Clarke at the front of the net to tie the game in the 79th minute. This marked the first WPSL goal of Clarke’s career.

“I was like we have to get this in the back of the net,” Clark said.  “I love set pieces…I didn’t go up on a couple of [plays] before which I probably should have but it’s okay.”

Both teams remained scoreless after an even first half, where goaltender Jessica Kampeter stonewalled Lou Fusz. After an early goal in the second half from the visitors, the Reign quickly righted the ship, controlling possession the majority of the final 30 minutes.

“To come out of here with a draw against a quality team, I’m happy with that,” head coach Dakota Acock said. “I think things finally started to click, yet again a second half performance from us.”

In their three conference games, Lou Fusz Athletic is currently 3-0 with a 7-0 run differential. This extends Missouri’s unbeaten streak at home, still refusing to lose at R Marvin Owens under the Reign moniker. 

The Reign will have to carry that success on the road, traveling to face FC Wichita. As a big conference match, the winner has a chance to jump into the top three of the Heartland Conference.

“We just take who we have, and it’s just another chance to play,” Acock said. “The first time for them in the league, the first time for us in the league, we both get to see where each other are at.”

The game at FC Wichita takes place on Saturday, June 8 at 7 p.m.