October 27, 2023 – Emporia State clinched home field in the MIAA Tournament Opening Round with a 3-1 road win over Nebraska-Kearney on Friday afternoon.
The Hornets wasted little time once the match got underway as they recorded two shots and two corner kicks within the first three minutes. The attacking pressure paid off just six minutes into the match as
Mackenzie Dimarco broke the deadlock at the six-minute mark.
Dimarco gained possession deep into the Loper half before racing past the final defender into the box and placing a shot past the keeper into the bottom left corner to give Emporia State a 1-0 lead.
The goal for Mackenzie DImarco pushed her career total to 161 points, passing Sara Murray (Truman State 2001-04) for second most in MIAA history.
Emporia State was unable to expand their lead in the first half as the score remained 1-0 into the halftime break.
In the first half, the Hornets outshot the Lopers 12-2.
Following the halftime break,
Mackenzie Dimarco would double the Emporia State lead just ten minutes into the second half.
In the 56
th minute, the Hornets won a throw-in deep in the Loper half of the field. The throw found
Hannah Woolery who headed it further into the box, finding
Mackenzie Dimarco. Dimarco was able to turn her defender before beating the Nebraska-Kearney goalkeeper on the near post with a right-footed shot.
The third goal for Emporia State came just ten minutes later from the foot of
Anna Burnett.
With possession in their own half, the Hornets played a long ball forward that fell
Hannah Woolery on the left wing. Woolery raced down the left side before making a cross towards the top of the box. After a defensive deflection, the ball fell to Burnett 25 yards from the goal where she struck it first time, beating the keeper in the top left corner to make the score 3-0.
Nebraska-Kearney was able to grab a lone goal back in the 75
th minute but Emporia State held off the Lopers the remainder of the match to clinch a home match in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament.
Mackenzie Dimarco scored two goals to bring her season total to 16 on the season which leads the MIAA.
Anna Burnett scored her third goal of the season.
Hannah Woolery recorded two assists, bringing her season total to four and extending her Emporia State program record to 25 in her career.
Emporia State will wrap up the regular season with the Turnpike Tussle against Washburn on Sunday, October 29. The match is scheduled to kickoff at 1:00 p.m. from Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kan.
