Women's Soccer | 10/10/2024 9:53:00 AM

Matches 9-10
Emporia State Hornets (3-3-2, 1-1-1 MIAA)
vs. Pittsburg State Gorillas (4-4-2, 0-2-2 MIAA)
Friday, October 11 • 2:00 p.m. • Emporia, KS • ESU Pitch
Series History: First Meeting

vs. Missouri Southern Lions (1-5-4, 0-2-2 MIAA)
Sunday, October 13 • 1:00 p.m. • Emporia, KS • ESU Pitch
Series History: MSSU leads 16-10-6 • Last Meeting: ESU 2, MSSU 1 (10/15/23)

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
Emporia State is set to host Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern this weekend. The Hornets match against the Gorillas will be the first ever meeting between the two programs.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets traveled west for a road matchup against Fort Hays State. Emporia State fell behind early in the match, as an eighth minute goal for the Tigers put the hosts ahead. The Hornets responded with a goal of their own shortly after the halftime break. Hadlie Lowe scored on a header following a cross from Sade Lee. Both the Hornets and Tigers were unable to break the deadlock as the match ended in a 1-1 draw, the fifth draw between the two over the past four seasons.

TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year one at the helm of Hornet Soccer and is 3-3-2 with a roster that is balanced between 13 returners and 13 newcomers for 2024. Grimley-Gunn spent the previous two seasons as the head coach for Missouri S&T's women's program. In 2023, the Miners had their longest unbeaten streak to start a season since 1997 and made a trip to the GLVC Tournament for the fourth time in school history. She was 1-0-1 against the MIAA in her two years, defeating Missouri Southern and playing to a 0-0 tie against Washburn. Prior to her time in Rolla, Grimley-Gunn was the associate head coach at her alma mater Goldey-Beacom College for four years. In those four seasons, the Lightning went 48-24-4. She was also named a recipient of the "30 under 30" award by the United Soccer Coaches in 2019. 

A LOOK AT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 3-3-2 and 1-1-1 through their first three matches in MIAA action. The Hornets have 11 goals on the season with one in each of their last four, including their latest match, a 1-1 draw on the road against Fort Hays State. The attack has featured a host of different Hornets, as seven different players have recorded a goal this season. Megan Jeremias has a team-high three goals and Abby Bachman has two of her own. Ella Ruliffson and Megan Kephart both have a goal and assist while Hadlie Lowe, Megyn Mahloch and Avery Zimmerman all have one goal. Sade Lee is the lone Hornet with multiple assists with two. In goal, Mackenzi Goen has started all eight matches and played all but 19 minutes between the posts. Goen has 37 saves and a pair of shutouts so far this season.

ABOUT THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 4-4-2 on the season with a 0-2-2 record in the MIAA. The 2024 season is the first in program history for the Gorillas and they are looking for their first ever MIAA win. Four players lead the Pittsburg State attack with multiple goals this season, while Riley River leads the way with three goals. McKenna Robinson has only scored one goal on the season, but has been critical to the attack with a team-high seven assists and 31 shot attempts. In goal, three different players have seen minutes between the posts, with Jocelyn Kramar started eight of ten matches and playing over 650 minutes so far this season.

ABOUT THE LIONS
Missouri Southern is 1-5-4 this season and 0-2-2 in MIAA action. The Lions are led in attack Nathalia Luiz who has three goals and an assist for a team-high seven points. Presley Whitmire has a goal of her own and has recorded 15 shots on the season, the most for anyone on the roster. In goal, Bella Smith has played all 900 minutes for Missouri Southern and has three shutouts and 61 total saves this season.