The Culver-Stockton College men's soccer team keeps knocking on the door of its first conference victory of the season.Unfortunately the Wildcats have found no one home when they finish knocking.

The Wildcats battled 23rd-ranked MidAmerica Nazarene University for a hard 90 minutes before succumbing 3-2 Friday night at Ellison Poulton Stadium.

The Pioneers, the defending NAIA national champion, jumped out 2-0 in the first half before the Wildcats found the fire to play.

After MNU made it 2-0 in the 30th minute, C-SC's Jakson Baber netted his first goal of the season after a re-start just inside MNU territory. Layne Helvey sent the free kick into the area and Baber was able to find the back of the net in the 31st minute.

With C-SC still trailing 2-1 in the second half, the Wildcats were awarded a penalty kick with 20 minutes left in the game after a dangerous play by the Pioneers in the penalty area.

However, senior Riccardo Fornisari's attempt sailed high and off the cross bar keeping the Wildcats a goal behind.

Shortly after the penalty miss, the Pioneers got behind the C-SC defense and made it 3-1 in the 74th minute.

C-SC didn't hang its head and got that goal back just two minutes later when a throw in from Gino Buffa to the middle of the penalty area found the head of Baber who put it into the left corner of the net.

C-SC, which recorded just eight shots in the game, had a coupe of solid chances in the waning minutes but couldn't find the back of the net for the equalizer.

The Wildcats are scheduled to conclude the 2024 campaign this Wednesday, Oct. 30, at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m.