Monday's North Central Missouri Conference matchup in Mexico seemed to be a stalemate outside of a few minutes.

Mexico vs Kirksville Photo Gallery

Mexico lost 3-1 to Kirksville at Chris Hotop Field after allowing two first-half goals three minutes apart and being outshot 16-9.

The Lady Bulldogs (3-11-1, 1-6 NCMC) held their own better than their 5-1 loss in Kirksville (5-7, 2-5 NCMC) back in March, head coach Sarah Olson said, but the Lady Tigers were able to strike in a few spurts. Kirksville scored in the 21st minute prior to adding another goal three minutes later, for instance.

"They played a lot more similar in the second half how they played the first time, trying to connect passes good from the middle and play fast," Olson said. "They picked up the speed of play a lot so we were turning and trying to find them. We just couldn't match that speed quite as well."

Olson said this was especially true in the second half since, even though Kirksville took a quick 2-0 lead in the first half, Claire Hudson responded with Mexico's goal in the 29th minute.

Once Kirksville struck again in the 65th minute, the Lady Tigers unleashed a flurry of shots toward Mexico's goal. Katie Crews was there to stop a lot of them, making eight saves for Mexico.

"The wind helped both of us," Olson said. "In the first half, it tremendously helped us. It helped them some in the second half."

Before Kirksville's offense became more active in the second half, neither team was able to get much going offensively. Pertaining to Mexico's defense, Kirksville couldn't advance the ball up the middle.

Olson said this aspect of Mexico's play has been one area where the team has improved. Emily Moppin and Marali Herrara acted like a wall oftentimes in those moments.

"Our middle is one of the things we developed most this season," Olson said. "The middle is such a hard position to play and such an important part of the field that typically it's your most skilled players. They can distribute and they're quick while they're seeing the field. Since the last time we've played Kirksville, we've grown a lot.

"Emily fights for every ball, and she's tough in there. Marali is very skilled so she sees the ball and is able to distribute. They're in there for a reason."

Mexico plays at Eugene (4-10) at 5 p.m. today before a rematch at conference foe Hannibal (12-2-2, 6-0 NCMC) at 6 p.m. Thursday. Olson said the Lady Bulldogs are connecting the dots on the field and want to further their efforts for the rest of this season.

"As a team, we are connecting way more passes then we have been," Olson said. "We're not just connecting two passes, but we're connecting five or six in a row. It's still not where we want it. We still ways to go, but the defense is connecting with the midfield and the midfielder is connecting with the forwards more."

Look for a story about Emma Leigh Azdell and how the late teammate still sticks with her loved ones in next week's Ledger.