St. Joseph, MO – The Hawks kicked off conference play on Saturday (Apr. 4) at Spratt Stadium in a tough matchup against Missouri Western State University. Despite staying close statistically, the Hawks ultimately fell to the Griffons, 18–11.

Alaina Wilkinson opened the scoring for the Hawks with a free position shot from the 8-meter arc, but the Griffons quickly answered and built a 4–1 lead. Aurora Jason added a goal with 47 seconds left in the first quarter to cut the deficit to 4–2 heading into the second. Wilkinson and Amelia Ham each found the net early in the second quarter, but the Griffons pushed their lead to 7–3. Wilkinson completed her hat trick, and goals from Anni Moran and Ham brought the Hawks within striking distance, trailing just 9–7 at halftime.

The Griffons extended their lead early in the third, but Ham responded with her third goal of the game, her 41st of the season, placing her second in the conference in goals per game. Moran currently ranks third in goals per game. Despite a strong individual effort, including Wilkinson's steal from the Griffon goalkeeper that led to an empty-net goal to end the third quarter at 14–9, and a man-up goal from Bruggerman, her first career goal, the Hawks couldn't close the gap, falling by a final score of 18–11.

Wilkinson led the Hawks with five goals. Jason and Mary Grace Cummings recorded the team's only assists. Madison Whiting Wagner tallied 10 saves and picked up six ground balls, while Emily Leal and Mikenna Ham each secured five draw controls.

The Hawks will look to earn their first conference win this Friday (Apr. 4) when they take on the William Jewell College Cardinals in Liberty, MO. Game time is set for 2:00 P.M.