Women's Soccer | 11/11/2023 8:40:00 AM
Game 21
Emporia State Hornets (11-5-4, 8-2-1 MIAA)
vs. #15 Central Missouri Jennies (15-3-2, 8-1-2 MIAA)
Saturday, Nov. 11 • 8:00 p.m. • Stryker Soccer Complex • Wichita, Kan.
Series Record: UCM leads 27-8-2 •
Last Meeting: UCM 1, ESU 0 (10/13/23)
Up Next: Winner earns automatic bid to NCAA Central Regional
THREE'S COMPANY
For the third consecutive season, Emporia State will matchup with Central Missouri in the MIAA Championship match.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State took down top seed Washburn 3-2 on Friday afternoon in the MIAA Semifinals.
THE COACHES
Bryan Sailer is 118-87-34 in his 12th season at Emporia State and is the winningest coach in program history and fifth winningest coach in MIAA history. He has a career record of 176-110-36 that includes coaching four years at the community college level. He has led the Hornets to nine straight .500 or better regular seasons, six straight MIAA Tournaments and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
Lewis Theobald is 289-44-25 in his 16th season at UCM. He is 21-5-1 against the Hornets.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 11-5-4 on the season and finished 8-2-1 in the MIAA. Emporia State ranks top five in the MIAA in points, goals and assists this season.
Mackenzie Dimarco is leading the MIAA with 17 goals on the season as she was unanimously named MIAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Hadlie Lowe and
Anna Burnett have scored four goals while
Hannah Woolery has three of her own. The Hornet defense is anchored by
Joanie Westcoat,
Abby Bachman and
Aubree Blackman. Westcoat has played all 1800 minutes so far this season. In midfield along with Woolery,
Angela Palmer has started all 20 matches and is fourth on the Hornets with 17 shots.
Alexis Cole and
Haley Sparks have both scored multiple goals on the season for Emporia State.
ABOUT CENTRAL MISSOURI
The Jennies are 15-3-2 on the season and finished 8-1-2 in the MIAA as they earned the second seed in the MIAA Tournament. Central Missouri is currently ranked 15th in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll and fourth in the latest Central Regional Rankings. Five different players have scored at least five goals for the Jennies this season with Caroline Cole and Lexie Ruf leading the way with six goals each. Both Cole and Ruf have a trio of game-winning goals, including in the MIAA Semifinals as Ruf scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win over Fort Hays State. Central Missouri had three players named All-MIAA First Team with Emma Burden and Andre Orcutt joined Cole on first team. In goal, Kristen Wright started 18 matches and has nine shutouts on the season.
SERIES HISTORY
Central Missouri leads the all-time series 27-8-2 with the Hornets winning four of the last six meetings. Five of the six meetings over the past three seasons have been decided by one goal.
LAST TIME VS. THE JENNIES
Emporia State hosted Central Missouri from the ESU Pitch in the regular season. The Jennies were able to hold on to a 1-0 win over the Hornets.
UP NEXT
The winner of the MIAA Championship will earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Regional and both teams should advance to the regional next week.
