Women's Soccer | 11/2/2023 11:51:00 AM
Game 19
Emporia State Hornets (9-5-4, 8-2-1 MIAA)
vs. Northwest Missouri Bearcats (8-4-6, 5-2-4 MIAA)
Friday, Nov. 3 • 2:00 p.m. • ESU Pitch • Emporia, Kan.
Series Record: ESU leads 15-9-4 •
Last Meeting: ESU 2, NW 2 (10/6/23)
Up Next: Winner advances to MIAA Semifinals
Thursday, Nov. 9 • Wichita, Kan.
POSTSEASON AT THE PITCH
Emporia State opens postseason play with an MIAA Tournament Opening Round match against Northwest Missouri at the ESU Pitch.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State wrapped up the regular season with a 1-0 win over #6 Washburn.
THE COACHES
Bryan Sailer is 116-87-34 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 175-110-36 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.
Marc Gordon is 42-41-13 in his sixth season at NWMSU. He is 0-7-1 against ESU.
SCOUTING THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 9-5-4 on the season and 8-2-1 through nine games 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 16 goals on the season as she was unanimously named MIAA Offensive Player of the Year.
Hadlie Lowe and
Hannah Woolery both have three goals on the season. The Hornet defense is anchored by
Joanie Westcoat,
Abby Bachman and
Aubree Blackman. Westcoat has played all 1620 minutes so far this season. In midfield along with Woolery,
Angela Palmer has started all 18 matches and is fourth on the Hornets with 16 shots.
Anna Burnett,
Alexis Cole and
Haley Sparks have all scored multiple goals on the season for Emporia State.
ABOUT NORTHWEST MISSOURI
The Bearcats are 8-4-6 through the regular season with a a 5-2-4 MIAA record as they finished in fifth place in the standings. Northwest Missouri is outscoring opponents 30-15 on the season and are led by All-MIAA First Team forward Kaylie Rock in attack. Rock has nine goals and four assists for the Bearcats. In addition to Rock, the MIAA Co-Freshman of the Year, Ximena Arnau, helps control the midfield and has ten points on the season while also being named All-MIAA Second Team. Northwets Missouri deploys a strong defense to partner their attack and it is anchored by goalkeeper Lily Ellis, who was named Third Team All-MIAA and has eight shutouts this season.
SERIES HISTORY
Emporia State leads the all-time series 15-9-4 over Northwest Missouri. This is the fourth consecutive season the Hornets and Bearcats have met in the MIAA Tournament and the fifth postseason matchup in the past four seasons.
LAST TIME VS. THE BEARCATS
Earlier this season, the Hornets traveled to Maryville, Mo. for a road MIAA matchup against the Bearcats. Both teams were able to score a pair of first half goals as the match resulted in a 2-2 tie.
UP NEXT
The winner of the Opening Round matchup will travel to Wichita, Kan. for the semifinal match on Thursday, Nov. 9 from Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita.
