Women's Soccer | 9/17/2024 5:24:00 PM

HOME SWEET HOME
Emporia State is set to take on Drury in their 2024 home opener from the ESU Pitch. Since 2018, the Hornets hold a 30-2-2 record in matches played at the ESU Pitch.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets traveled to Bismarck, ND for a pair of matches against Northern State and UMary. In the first match of the weekend, Emporia State fell behind early with a goal from the Wolves before getting goals from Megan Jeremias, Megyn Mahloch and Abby Bachman to claim a 3-1 win. The Hornets were unable to complete the double on the weekend as they fell to UMary on Sunday.

NEW ERA
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in her first season at Emporia State and is 2-2-0 through the first two weeks. She was named the sixth head coach in Hornet Soccer history on February 16, 2024. 

TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year one at the helm of Hornet Soccer and is 2-2-0 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 2-2-0 through the first two weeks after four matches against NSIC competition. The Hornets have scored six goals on the season with three coming in each of their wins against Southwest Minnesota and Northern State. Abby Bachman and Megan Jeremias have each scored two goals on the season with Bachman leading the Hornets with 11 shots and five points as she also tallied an assist in the win over Northern State last weekend. Megyn Mahloch also scored her first career goal, which proved to be the game-winning goal against the Wolves. Jeremias, along with Hadlie Lowe, Avery Zimmerman, Paige Putter and Hailey Gancarz have all recorded multiple shots through the first two weeks. In goal, Mackenzi Goen has started all four matches for the Hornets and has 20 saves and a .741 save percentage. She recorded her first shutout of the season and sixth shutout of her career in the Hornets' 3-0 win over Southwest Minnesota on opening weekend. Goen plus 17 outfield players have played over 100 minutes through the first four matches. 

ABOUT THE PANTHERS
Drury is 3-0-1 on the season which includes a pair of wins over NSIC opponents Bemidji State and Northern State, who the Hornets also played last weekend. The Panthers are coming off a 12-win season where they finished third in the GLVC while allowing the fewest goals in the conference. They are averaging two goals per game and have scored multiple goals in three of four matches. The Panthers have gotten two goals each from Kourtney Tucker, Holland Hawkins and Leah McDonald to lead the attack this season. In goal, Katy Fitzler has played all 360 minutes so far this season and has allowed just three goals while recording two shutouts.