Emporia State Hornets (8-8-2, 4-6-1 MIAA)
vs. #1 Central Missouri (18-0-0, 11-0-0 MIAA)
MIAA Tournament Quarterfinals
Wednesday, Nov. 1 • 6:00 p.m. • Warrensburg, Mo. • South Recreation Complex
Series Record: UCM Leads 23-3-2 Last Meeting: at UCM 2, ESU 1 (Oct. 13, 2017)
Up Next: winner vs. winner of FHSU and MSSU
Friday, Nov. 3 at highest remaining seed
TOURNEY TIME
After two wins at home, Emporia State advances to the MIAA Tournament for the fourth time in five years. The Hornets will face top ranked Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.
THE COACHES
Bryan Sailer is 48-61-20 in his seventh year at Emporia State and is the winningest coach in program history. He has a career record of 107-84-22 that includes four years at the community college level. He is 1-4 in the MIAA Tournament. He is 0-6-1 against Central Missouri.
Lewis Theobald is 190-27-18 in his eleventh year as head coach for the Jennies with a 13-2 record in the MIAA Tournament. He is 13-0-1 against Emporia State.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State won 1-0 over Nebraska Kearney in double overtime when Ashlynn Summar converted a header shot into the top left corner on an assist from Olivia Miller for the Golden Goal. The Lopers outshot the Hornets 19-12 throughout the match while the Hornets outshot the Lopers in the two overtime periods 5-4. In the match the Hornets had eight fouls to 16 for the Lopers.
ABOUT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 8-8-2 on the season, 4-6-1 in the MIAA. This is the fifth straight year the Hornets have finished the regular season at .500 or better. The Hornets have been outshot 266-206 on the season and have scored even with opponents at 24-24. The Hornets have ten players with at least one goal each. They are led by Olivia Miller with five, Tanna Benefiel, Ashlynn Summar and Kennedy Hoffman with four goals each. Bethany Reeves has started all 18 matches in goal. She has recorded five shutouts and has 102 saves with a save percentage of .810. She has a 1.27 GA/Avg in 1707 minutes of play.
ABOUT #1 CENTRAL MISSOURI
Central Missouri is 18-0-0 on the season, 11-0-0 in the MIAA and ranked #1 in the nation. The Jennies have outshot their opponents 367-145 on the season and outscored them 65-2. The Jennies have eleven players with at least one goal led by Jada Scott with 13 goals followed by Abby Rhodes with 11, Baylie Edwards with 9 and Makayla Toth with 8. In goal, senior Ana Dilkes has started all 18 games for the Jennies and has 62 saves with a .969 save percentage through 1620 minutes of play.
SERIES HISTORY
The Jennies lead the series 23-3-2 over the Hornets.
LAST TIME AGAINST THE #1 JENNIES
The last meeting between Emporia State and Central Missouri was October 13, 2017. Olivia Miller played a ball of a deflection into the right corner of the net in the 14th minute to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead. It was the first time the Jennies hadbeen scored on this season and the first time they had trailed against an MIAA team in over a year, since a 2-1 loss at Central Oklahoma on October 7, 2016. The Jennies tied the game with 4:29 left in the first half when Callie Henshaw's shot deflected in off Hornet keeper Bethany Reeves hands just inside the bar. Abby Rhodes gave Central Missouri less than two minutes later when she scored with just 3:01 left in the half. Neither team would score in the second half with Emporia State getting off just two shots after intermission.
UP NEXT
The winner of this match will face the winner of the matchup between #4 Fort Hays State and #5 Missouri Southern in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals at the home site of the highest remaining seed in the tournament.
