Women's Soccer | 10/9/2025 1:00:00 PM
Matches 10-11
Emporia State Hornets (6-3, 3-0 MIAA)
at Pittsburg State Gorillas (8-1-1, 3-0-1 MIAA)
Friday, October 10 • 2:00 p.m. • Pittsburg, Kan. • Gorilla Soccer Pitch
Series History: PSU leads 1-0 •
Last Meeting: PSU 1, at ESU 0 (10/11/24)
at Missouri Southern Lions (2-5-3, 0-2-2 MIAA)
Sunday, October 12 • 1:00 p.m. • Joplin, Mo. • Fred G. Hughes Stadium
Series History: MSSU leads 16-11-6 •
Last Meeting: at ESU 4, MSSU 2 (10/13/24)
Complete Notes in pdf •
The MIAA Network •
Live Stats
ON THE ROAD AGAIN
Emporia State's MIAA schedule continues on, this time with road matchups against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern.
LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets hosted Fort Hays State on the ESU Pitch, for the lone action that Emporia Staet had last week. In a match that was filled with flurries of goals, Megan Kephart got things started in the fifth minute to put the Hornets ahead. Three goals combined in the last six minutes of the first saw the score tied 2-2 entering the break. In the second half, with the wind at their back, Emporia State took control and scored three goals in the final 45 on their way to a 5-2 win over the Tigers, their fourth in a row and third to begin MIAA action.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at Emporia State in 2025 and has a 12-11-3 record with the Hornets.
Wes Branstetter is 16-9-3 in his second season at Pittsburg State, and is the first coach in program history with the Gorillas inaugural season taking place in 2024.
Sade Boswell is 6-46-11 in her fourth season at Missouri Southern and has matched her most wins in a season with the Lions already in 2025.
TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at the helm of Hornet Soccer and is 12-11-3. 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.Â
A LOOK AT THE HORNETS
Emporia State is 6-3 on the season and 3-0 in the early stages of the MIAA season after winning their last four matches. Following a 2-0 win on the road againt CSU-Pueblo, the Hornets have picked up MIAA wins over Newman, Central Oklahoma and Fort Hays State in the last two weeks. Across those four matches, freshman Ella Favot has burst onto the scene with five goals and an assist, with a goal scored in each of the last four. Favot earned MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honors after scoring three goals in the two wins over the Jets and Bronchos. Five more Hornets have scored multiple goals so far this season, with Megan Kephart, Hailey Gancarz, Madeline Bracy, Peyton Pipes and Avery Zimmeran all having two. In addition to a balanced attack, Aubrey Seltman and Ruby Ryan have been staples in defense with four-year starter Abby Bachman patrolling the left side of the pitch.
SCOUTING THE GORILLAS
Pittsburg State is 8-1-1 this season and 3-0-1 in the MIAA, with their eight wins matching their total from the 2024 season under head coach Wes Branstetter. The Gorilla attack has been potent through the first ten matches, scoring 26 goals with Ella Cazzavillan and Sailor Jensen both leading the way with four goals each. Jensen was named the MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week after a pair of shutout wins last week, while also scoring the game-winning goal in their 1-0 win against Rogers State. Jocelyn Kramar has started nine of ten matches in goal, and has played all but 75 minutes this season. In addition to Kramar and Jensen who, have both played over 85% of minutes this year, Adelynn Phipps has played 840 minutes in defense and has helped the Gorillas to five shutouts.
SCOUTING THE LIONSÂ
Missouri Southern is 2-5-3 this season, with an 0-2-2 mark in the MIAA this season. The Lions have struggled offensively since the MIAA schedule started, as they have been held scoreless in all four matches. The Lions have tallied just 11 goals through the first ten matches and are being led by Presley Whitmore, who has three goals and an assist for a team-high seven points. Junior Bella Smith has been the primary goalkeeper for Missouri Southern starting and playing all 90 minutes in nine of ten matches.
