Women's Soccer | 9/5/2024 3:56:00 PM
Matches 1-2
Emporia State Hornets (0-0-0)
at Minnesota State Mavericks (0-0-0)
Friday, Sep. 6 • 4:00 p.m. • The Pitch • Mankato, Minn.
Series Record: MSU leads 1-0-1 •
Last Meeting: ESU 0, MSU 0 (9/3/23)
vs. Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (0-0-0)
Sunday, Sep. 8 • 11:00 a.m. • The Pitch • Mankato, Minn.
Series Record: ESU leads 1-0-1 •
Last Meeting: ESU 2, SMSU 2 (9/2/05)
Up Next: Northern State • Friday, Sep. 13 • 3:00 p.m. • Bismarck, ND
KICKOFF UP NORTH
The Hornets travel north for matches against Minnesota State and Southwest Minnesota State as they open the 2024 season with four straight NSIC opponents.
NEW ERA
Jane Grimley-Gunn is entering her first season at Emporia State. She was named the sixth head coach in Hornet Soccer history on February 16, 2024.Â
PRESEASON PICKS
The Hornets were picked fifth in the 2024 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 98 points. This is the fifth consecutive season Emporia State was picked within the top five in the preseason poll.Â
TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is entering year one at the helm of Hornet Soccer and has a roster of 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 enters the 2024 season following a 14-6-4 record in 2023 and their third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. The Hornets return five players that played over 1000 minutes last season and ten that played over 500. Aubree Blackman (So./Olathe, KS) and Abby Bachman (Jr./Wichita, KS) played the second and third-most minutes in 2023 with 1984 and 1866 minutes respectively. Blackman had two assists in her first season and Bachman tallied four assists, the first four of her Hornet career. Mackenzi Goen (Jr./Hurst, TX) returns between the posts for Emporia State, as she started 22 matches last season and has 30 career starts over the past two years. Goen has a career record of 16-7-7 with the Hornets and has 120 career saves. Hadlie Lowe (Sr./Wichita, KS) is the Hornets' leading returning goalscorer as she recorded six goals in her first season at Emporia State. Lowe played in 1554 minutes last season following a successful career at Hutchinson CC. Haley Sparks (Sr./Valley Center, KS) joins Lowe as one of the two seniors for the Hornets, and has played in 63 career matches with 27 starts through her first three seasons with the Hornets. Other key returners this season include Asta Kristindottir, Ava Smith, Ali Coash, Karlie Kanaga, Paige Putter while Ella Ruliffson, Mia Sandvig and Mikhaela Goen look to enter increased roles. In addition to the 13 returning players, the Hornets bring in 13 newcomers with four transfers and nine freshman.
ABOUT THE MAVERICKS
Minnesota State is coming off an 11-5-4 record in 2023 and their 12th consecutive trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Mavericks return four of five players that scored multiple goals last season, with Avery Korsching being the leading returning goalscorer with six in 2023. Minnesota State will be without their goalkeeper from last season, Mackenzie Rath, who played in 66 career matches for the Mavericks and was the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year in both 2022 and 2023. Senior Claire Longueville will likely take over between the posts after playing in eight matches over the past two years. The Hornets and Mavericks met last season for the first time in the regular season and second time in history and played to a 0-0 draw in Kansas City.Â
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
Southwest Minnesota State enters 2024 following a 6-10-1 record and ninth-place finish in the NSIC last season. The Mustangs are looking for their first winning season since 2019 and will return four of their five leading goalscorers from last season, including their top three and Brooke Wetterstrom who recorded two goals and five assists for a team-high nine points in 2023. Defender Emily Maciel returns on the backline after the leading the Mustangs with 1506 minutes played in 2023. The Hornets and Mustangs have met just twice in program history with the last meeting coming in 2005, which was played to a 2-2 draw.
