Women's Soccer | 9/17/2026 2:33:00 PM

Matches 7-8
Emporia State Hornets (3-2-1)
vs. Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (2-2-2)
Friday, Sep. 18 • 4:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • ESU Pitch
Series History: ESU lead 14-6-3 • Last Meeting: at ESU 5, UNK 1 (10/24/25)

vs. Fort Hays State Tigers (2-2-1)
Sunday, Sep. 20 • 1:00 p.m. • Emporia, Kan. • ESU Pitch
Series History: FHSU leads 9-8-9 • Last Meeting: ESU 5, FHSU 2 (10/5/25)

MIAA ACTION BEGINS
Emporia State soccer will host their fifth and sixth home matches of the season as they open MIAA play with Nebraska-Kearney and Fort Hays State coming to the ESU Pitch.

LAST TIME OUT
The Hornets played on either side of the weekend and came away with a pair of high scoring wins. Last Friday, Emporia State hosted CSU Pueblo and despite an early goal by the visitors, the Hornets responded with four goals on their way to a 4-1 win. On Monday afternoon, the Hornets hosted Oklahoma Baptist and led 2-0 at the break before beating the Bison 5-1 behind a hat trick by Megan Kephart, the first of her career.

ABOUT THE COACHES
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year three at Emporia State in 2026 and has a 18-16-9 record with the Hornets.
Rob Breton is in year five as the head coach at Nebraska-Kearney and has a 16-45-17 record with the Lopers. 
Alex Hagan is 2-2-1 in the early stages of his first season at Fort Hays State. Hagan has a 31-47-10 career record after spending five years as the head coach at Bethel (KS).

TOP GUNN
Jane Grimley-Gunn is in year two at the helm of Hornet Soccer and is 18-16-9. 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. 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 3-2-1 through the nonconference portion of their schedule and are coming off a pair of high-scoring wins against CSU Pueblo and Oklahoma Baptist. Similar to last season, Megan Kephart and Ella Favot are leading the way in attack for the Hornets. Kephart has five goals and an assist, including a hat trick in the latest match against OBU, while Favot has three goals and four assists, with eight of her ten points coming in the last two matches. Ava Huston has added two goals while Taylor McFalls, Avery Zimmerman, Peyton Pipes, Ruby Ryan, Leah Oldham and Amy Paver have all found the back of the net. Ryan has played the most minutes on the team at 519 while six more players have over 420 minutes through the first six matches. 

SCOUTING THE LOPERS
Nebraska-Kearney is 2-2-2 through six matches which incluedes wins over Wayne State (NE) and William Jewell and ties against Rockhurst and Colorado Christian. Vanna Reitsma leads the way with two goals while four more players have scored this season. The strength of the Lopers thus far has been their ability to limit opposing attacks, as they have allowed just seven goals with two shutouts. In goal, Susie Bovaird has 20 saves and a .741 save percentage while playing all but 23 minutes between the posts.

SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Fort Hays State is 2-2-1 with wins over William Jewell and Northwestern Oklahoma. The Tigers have ten goals on the season with three coming from Berit Shores. In addition to Shores, seven different players have all scored this season with Saylor Richard being the lone player with both a goal and an assist so far this season. In goal, Katie Stoskopf, has started all five matches and has 14 saves with a .737 save percentage for the Tigers.