Women's Soccer | 11/12/2025 1:30:00 PM
Match 20
(7) Emporia State Hornets (9-5-5, 5-2-5 MIAA)
vs. (6) Central Oklahoma Bronchos (9-5-5, 6-3-3 MIAA)
Thursday, November 13 • 12:00 p.m. • Wichita, Kan. • Stryker Sports Complex
Series History: UCO leads 9-4-3 •
Last Meeting: ESU 2, at UCO 0 (9/28/25)
The MIAA Network •
Live Stats •
Tickets •
Complete Notes in pdf
MEET IN THE MIDDLE
Emporia State and Central Oklahoma will both hit I-35 on their way to Wichita for a meeting in the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament.
LAST TIME OUT
Emporia State was in Topeka on Sunday afternoon, and like the last time the Hornets and Ichabods met in the MIAA Tournament in 2023, the Hornets came out on top 3-2. However, unlike the last MIAA Tournament matchup, Emporia State was forced to rally from a 2-0 deficit that took shape just 18 minutes into the match. After falling behind, the Hornets began to climb back, as Ella Favot scored in the 34th minute to make the score 2-1 before the halftime break. In the second half, Ruby Ryan converted a header on a corner kick in the 59th to tie the match. Just five minutes later, Kylie Richardson delivered a strike from 25 yards to put the Hornets ahead 3-2, and they would hold off the Ichabods down the stretch to seal the comeback win.
ABOUT THE COACHES
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at Emporia State in 2025 and has a 15-13-8 record with the Hornets.
Amel Muhamedagic is 21-12-9 in his second season with the Bronchos.
TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at the helm of Hornet Soccer and is 15-13-8. 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 finished the regular season 8-5-5 and 5-2-5 in the MIAA for a total of 20 points and a seventh-place finish in the standings to return to the MIAA Tournament after a one-year absence. Megan Kephart and Ella Favot lead the Hornets with 17 points each on the season. In addition to Favot and Kephart, Hailey Gancarz, Peyton Pipes, Madeline Bracy and Megan Jeremias all have scored multiple goals this season. The Hornets tallied seven shutouts on the season, their most since recording eight in the 2022 season. For senior Mackenzi Goen in goal, she has 15 career shutouts, with six this season, which ranks third in program history. The MIAA released their all-conference selections prior to the MIAA Tournament and the Hornets had eight receive recognition. Abby Bachman, Ella Favot and Megan Kephart all earned Second Team honors. For Bachman, it solidified her fourth All-MIAA honor in her four years with the Hornets. Mackenzi Goen, Peyton Pipes, Ruby Ryan, Madeline Bracy and Sammy Quiroz all received Honorable Mention.
SCOUTING THE BRONCHOS
Central Oklahoma enters the MIAA Semifinals with a 9-5-5 record, the same as Emporia State. The Bronchos also pulled off a first round upset, taking down third-seeded Central Missouri in the quarterfinals 2-1. Central Oklahoma is led by First Team All-MIAA selection Rebekah George, who has three goals and six assists on the season. Caleah Carter, Jordan Tanges and Jane Lockhart have all scored three or more goals on the season. Defensively, the Bronchos have allowed just 17 goals for a 0.89 goals against average, and only allowed more than one goal in MIAA action three times, with one coming against the Hornets.
WINNING WAYS
The Hornets have secured a winning record for the first time under head coach Jane Grimley-Gunn, and for Grimley-Gunn she nailed down her first winning season over her four years at Missouri S&T and Emporia State.
BACHMAN BACKLINE
Abby Bachman (Sr./Wichita, Kan.) has been a staple of the Hornet soccer program since arriving in 2022, as she has played in 80 career matches and played more than 6600 career minutes. She has eight career assists and three goals, with all three goals being scored over the past two seasons. She has earned All-MIAA honors and been named an MIAA Scholar Athlete in each of her first three seasons.
GOEN PLACES
Mackenzi Goen (Sr./Hurst, Texas) has been ever-present in goal for the Hornets in her career over the past four years, playing in 70 matches and starting 63. She has 15 career shutouts, including six this season which is her career-high after four each of the past two seasons. Goen has 261 career saves and an .772 career save percentage. This season she also has 1.06 goals against average and .800 save percentage which are career-bests.
Mikhaela Goen (Sr./Hurst, Texas) has joined her twin sister at Emporia State over the past three season and has made her presence felt in the midfield for the Hornets. She has played 34 matches over the past two seasons, with a goal scored in both seasons, including a long-range goal on the road against the last time the Hornets and Bronchos met in a 2-0 win for Emporia State.
ICELANDIC INTERNATIONAL
Asta Kristindottir (Sr./Seltjarnarnes, Iceland) has played in 60 career matches for the Hornets, with 15 this season after recovering from injury in 2024. Asta has scored three career goals and has three career assists across 3,728 minutes played.
PIPE DOWN
Peyton Pipes (Gr./Bossier City, La.) joined the Hornets this season and has started 18 matches along the backline. Pipes has also contributed three goals this season, including converting the lone penalty for Emporia State this season.
HART OF THE OPERATION
Megan Kephart (So./Lenexa, Kan.) has solidified herself in the striker position for Emporia State this season, starting all 19 matches and scoring five goals while adding seven assists. All five goals, along with five of her assists, have come against MIAA opponents, which put her at the top of the MIAA leaderboard in total points during conference play.
FROM A TO Z
Avery Zimmerman (So./Topeka, Kan.) has played in all 19 matches and made 18 starts this season, as she has surpassed her minutes total from her freshman season. Zimmerman has two goals and an assist, with her second goal of the season coming against Fort Hays State which also proved to be the game-winning goal. She has 12 shots with eight attempts on goal this season.
THUNDERSTRUCK
Ella Favot (Fr./Thunder Bay, Ontario) has made an immediate impact on the Hornet soccer program, playing in all 19 matches and making 15 starts. She has seven goals and three assists on the season for 17 points, with 15 coming against MIAA opponents. Favot finished the regular season second in points during conference play on her way to All-MIAA Second Team recognition.
RETURNING PRODUCTION
Several players that were members of the Grimley-Gunn's first Hornet team in 2024 have made contributions this season. Junior Megan Jeremias, along with sophomores Hailey Gancarz, Madeline Bracy and Megyn Mahloch have all found the scoresheet this season. Gancarz has four goals and three assists on the season to join Kephart and Favot with double-digit points, while Bracy has played in all 19 matches in the midfield while playing the fourth-most minutes on the team. Other returners that have contributed defensively include Ruby Ryan and Aubrey Seltman who have played over 1000 minutes, with Ryan's 1,652 minutes being the most on the team.
FRESH FACES
In addition to Ella Favot's contributions as a freshman, multiple players have made an impact for the Hornets this season in this first year of college soccer. Sammy Quiroz, Morgan Davis and Kylie Richardson along with Favot have all started at least four matches this season. Quiroz has contributed one goal and two assists and has also played at right back for the Hornets.
