Turnpike Tussle Wraps Up Regular Season for Hornet Soccer

Women's Soccer | 11/4/2025 5:00:00 PM

TIME TO TUSSLE
Emporia State travels up I-35 for the Turnpike Tussle, which also doubles as the regular season finale for both teams before the MIAA Tournament begins on Sunday.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets played a split weekend against  the Bearcats and Griffons, with the first of the two matchups happening on Friday night against Missouri Western. In a match that featured 22 shots, neither team was able to convert and take the advantage. The Griffons went down to ten players in the 81st minute, and the Hornets had chances late that come to fruition as the match ended in a 0-0 draw. On Sunday afternoon from the ESU Pitch, the Hornets hosted Northwest Missouri in their home finale and similar to Friday night's contest, the match also ended in a 0-0 draw. Emporia State held the advantage in shots over the Bearcats, which included a strong second half with the wind at their backs, but were unable to break the deadlock. With the tie against Northwest Missouri, the Hornets have now gone unbeaten against the Bearcats in 12 consecutive matches, tying the program's longest unbeaten streak against a single opponent. 

ABOUT THE COACHES
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at Emporia State in 2025 and has a 14-13-7 record with the Hornets.
Davy Phillips is 90-52-16 in his ninth season with the Ichabods. 

TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at the helm of Hornet Soccer and is 14-13-7. 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 8-5-4 on the season and 5-2-4 in the MIAA for a total of 19 points and sixth place in the standings entering the final match of the regular season. The Hornets have clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament prior to last weeks matches, but have to find out their seeding in the MIAA Tournament which begins on Sunday. Ella Favot and Megan Kephart lead the Hornets with 16 points each, while both having 14 points during conference action. In addition to Favot and Kephart, Hailey Gancarz, Peyton Pipes, Madeline Bracy and Megan Jeremias all have scored multiple goals this season. The last two matches were the fifth and sixth shutouts of the season for the Hornets. For senior Mackenzi Goen in goal, she now has 14 career shutouts between the posts following the two matches last week.  

SCOUTING THE ICHABODS
Washburn is 11-2-4 on the season and currently 8-0-3 in the MIAA for a league-leading total of 27 points entering the final match of the regular season. The Ichabods have gone unbeaten over the last 13 matches, and are looking to secure their third consecutive MIAA regular season title. Freshman Leah Henke leads the Washburn attack with nine goals and an assist on the season with three game-winning goals. Sam Searcey and Kate Hinck have also contributed five and four goals respectively. Other Ichabods with multiple goals scored this season include Shaye Taylor, Mackinly Rohn and Jules Wardlaw. In goal, Lili Everley has started 15 matches as a freshman and has tallied eight shutouts, while allowing just 0.52 goals per 90 minutes. 

WINNING WAYS
With their draw on Sunday afternoon against Northwest Missouri, the Hornets 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 68 matches and starting 61. She has 14 career shutouts, including five this season which is her career-high after four each of the past two seasons. Goen has 249 career saves and a .769 career save percentage. This season she also has 1.07 goals against average and .789 save percentage which are career-bests. 
Mikhaela Goen (Sr./Hurst, Texas) has joined her twin sister at Emporia State and has made her presence felt in the midfield for the Hornets. She has played 32 matches over the past two seasons, with a goal scored in both seasons, including a long-range goal on the road against Central Oklahoma which proved to be the game-winning goal in the 2-0 win over the Bronchos.

ICELANDIC INTERNATIONAL
Asta Kristindottir (Sr./Seltjarnarnes, Iceland) has played in 58 career matches for the Hornets, with 13 this season after recovering from injury in 2024. Asta has scored three career goals and has three career assists across 3,715 minutes played. 

PIPE DOWN
Peyton Pipes (Gr./Bossier City, La.) joined the Hornets this season and has started all 17 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 17 matches and scoring five goals while adding six assists. All five goals, along with four of her assists, have come during MIAA action, which puts her at the top of the MIAA leaderboads in points during conference play.

FROM A TO Z
Avery Zimmerman (So./Topeka, Kan.) has played in all 17 matches and made 16 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 17 matches and making 13 starts. She has six goals and three assists on the season for 15 points on the season, with 13 coming in MIAA matches. Favot is tied for second in the MIAA with her 13 points, just one behind teammate Megan Kephart.

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 17 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 1,382 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.