END OF THE REGULAR SEASONThe Hornets will play their final two regular season matches this weekend with a trip to the MIAA Tournament on the line. Action starts with a Halloween Turnpike Tussle at Washburn on Friday with the final regular season game on Sunday at Neb.-Kearney.
LAST TIME OUTEmporia State soccer fell to Fort Hays State 2-1 on Sunday at the EHS Pitch on Senior Day for the Hornets.
Emporia State scored the first goal of the game in the ninth minute when Grace Linton scored on an assist from Kelsey Wakefield. The Tigers would tie the game up in the 56th minute on a penalty kick that was netted by Kelsey Steffens. The go ahead goal was scored by Hannah Smith in the 72nd minute off a corner kick by Kelsey Steffens.
Yadira Rivera recorded six saves on the afternoon for the Hornets and Kristen Thompson had four saves for the Tigers.
Fort Hays State took a total of 17 shots while the Hornets recorded 15 total shots. Emporia State had five fouls called against them and the Tigers had 10 fouls against them.
THE COACHESBryan Sailer is 21-35-15 in his fourth year at Emporia State after a break through year in 2013 in which he led the Hornets to just the second winning record in the 13 year history of the program. He is 9-8-6 over his last 23 matches dating back to last year. He is 3-1-2 against Washburn and 0-2-1 against Neb.-Kearney.
John Maessner is 21-25-7 in his third season as head coach at Neb.-Kearney. He is 2-0-1 against Emporia State.
Terry Collins is 90-112-32 in his 12th season at Washburn. He is 13-6-3 against Emporia State.
SCOUTING THE HORNETSEmporia State is 5-6-5 on the season and 2-5-5 in the MIAA with 11 points to place ninth in the conference standings. The Hornets have had nine different players score a goal while the ninth person didn't score a goal until the 19th match last season. Grace Linton has six goals on the season to lead Emporia State in scoring. It is the most goals scored by a Hornet since Melanie Zdanek scored nine and Brandie Booth had seven in the 2005 season. Jordan Foutch and Amelie Heuhn both have two goals on the season while Jessica Schellhase has three assists. Yadira Rivera has a 1.07 goals against average with five shutouts this season. She had a streak of 424:46 without allowing a goal snapped at Missouri Western. She holds the Emporia State career record with 14 shutouts in her first two years.
SCOUTING THE ICHABODSWashburn is 0-15-1 on the season and 0-11-1 in the MIAA. The tie with Emporia State at the EHS Pitch is their only non-loss of the season. The Ichabods have only scored six goals on the season while giving up 34 goals. Emily Stauffer is the only player with multiple goals with two on the year. Sara Specht has three assists. Tori Fuglister is 0-15-0 in goal and has a 2.19 goals against average. Kaitlin Minnich played the final 65 minutes against Emporia State and did not allow a goal in her only action of the season.
LAST TIME AGAINST WASHBURNEmporia State and Washburn played to their third tie in 22 meetings in a 1-1 deadlock at the EHS Pitch.
Emporia State started out aggressive, getting three corner kicks in the first 3:20 of the match. The Hornets finally broke through when Grace Linton took a deflection off an Ichabod defender and put it in the net for her fourth goal of the season in the 15th minute. The teams would go to the half with Emporia State holding a 10-4 lead in shots and a 1-0 lead on the board.
Devon Schmitz scored the equalizer for Washburn when her shot from Sara Specht hit the cross bar and went in in the 59th minute. The two teams would each get four shots the rest of regulation with the Hornets Yadira Rivera making a save as time expired to ensure overtime.
Emporia State took all five shots of the first overtime with the Ichabods Kaitlin Minnich getting two saves on 2:46 off shots from Jordan Foutch and Linton to force the final ten minute period. The Hornets had all four shots in the final period but only one was on goal as the the two teams finished 110 minutes tied at 1-1.
For the match Emporia State outshot Washburn 24-9, including a 7-3 advantage on goal. The Hornets also had nine corner kicks to just one for the Ichabods.
SERIES HISTORYThis will be the 23rd soccer edition of the Turnpike Tussle. Washburn leads 13-6-3, but Emporia State has won three of the last six matches with two ties.
SCOUTING THE LOPERSNeb.-Kearney is 4-10-2 overall and 4-7-1 in the MIAA. They are 3-3-0 at home this season and have won two of their last three at Cope Stadium. Montanna Hosterman has five goals and assisted on two of the other eight on the season to lead the Lopers. Katelin Mielke and Regan Zach have split time in goal this season with Mielke getting the start the last four matches. Mielke has a 1.59 goals against average and two shut outs while Zach has a 2.23 goals against average with one shut out.
LAST TIME AGAINST NEBRASKA-KEARNEYEmporia State's Yadira Rivera had a season high 12 saves as she recorded her sixth shutout of the season as the Hornets and Neb.-Kearney tied 0-0 in double overtime at the EHS Pitch. It is the fifth tie of the season for the Hornets.
The Lopers controlled most of the action early as Rivera had seven saves in the first half while the Hornets only had one shot on goal. Things evened in the second half with Emporia State getting ten shots to UNK's five in the second 45 minutes.
SERIES HISTORYThis will be the fourth meeting between Emporia State and Neb.-Kearney with the Lopers lead 2-0-1.
A LOOK AT THE MIAA STANDINGSThe MIAA soccer standings are based on a point system with three points for a win and one point for a tie. Emporia State is currently in ninth place with 11 points. The seventh through 11th place teams are separated by just three points heading into the final weekend of action. Emporia State needs at least one tie to have a chance at making the MIAA Tournament and two wins are the only way to guarantee the spot heading into the final two games. The top eight teams make the MIAA Tournament with the top four teams hosting first round games.
UP NEXTIf the Hornets make the MIAA tournament the first round game will take place on Wednesday, November 5 on the road.
