The Calvary Christian Lady Spartans put forth a determined effort Thursday night in their home opener at McKinley Fields but came up short against the Urbana Hillclimbers, falling 3-1 in a hard-fought non-conference contest.

Urbana broke through first in the 28th minute when Lola Rice found the back of the net on a deep strike to give the Hillclimbers a 1-0 advantage. Despite the early deficit, Calvary Christian's defense remained resilient throughout the match. Reagan Roell, Sarah King, Caroline Moore, and Scout Andre anchored the back line with a strong defensive performance, helping keep the Spartans within striking distance.

The Lady Spartans continued to battle and were rewarded late in the second half. With less than 15 minutes remaining, Lilliana Phillips delivered a cross from the right side that found Jenna Palmer, who finished the chance to level the match at 1-1 and energize the home crowd.

The tie was short-lived, however, as Urbana responded just two minutes later. Mackendrick converted a well-placed free kick to put the Hillclimbers back in front, restoring the visitors' lead at 2-1.

Urbana added an insurance goal with seven minutes remaining when Hegyi found the net, sealing the Hillclimbers' 3-1 victory.

Despite the loss, Calvary Christian received a standout performance from goalkeeper Lydia Davie, who recorded nine saves while facing constant pressure from the Urbana attack. Senior Mak Kariuki also had a strong outing for the Lady Spartans, generating several shots on goal and creating scoring opportunities throughout the evening.

The Lady Spartans showed grit and determination in their home opener and will look to build on the positives as they continue their season.