The Northwest Missouri State soccer team plays host to Washburn and No. 6 Emporia State this weekend for more MIAA action. The Bearcats post a 4-3-1 record through eight games this season and earned their first point against Central Missouri since 2009 in a 2-2 draw to open conference play. 
 
Friday, October 1
Northwest Missouri State vs. Washburn
Bearcat Pitch | Maryville, Missouri | 3 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats
 
Sunday, October 3
Northwest Missouri State vs. No. 6 Emporia State
Bearcat Pitch | Maryville, Missouri | 1 p.m.
Watch | Live Stats
 
Pink Out at the Pitch
Sunday's game against Emporia State will be Northwest's annual Pink Out match. The first 200 fans will receive a free t-shirt courtesy of Mosaic Medical Center – Maryville. 

High-Ranked Rivals
Sunday's game against No. 6 Emporia State marks the fifth time in the last four weeks that the Bearcats will have faced a top-25 ranked opponent. Northwest is 1-2-1 against ranked opponents so far this season. 

All-Time Series Against the Ichabods
Northwest is 6-14-3 all-time against the Ichabods, however the Bearcats have won the last two matches, both in overtime. The last time the two conference foes played an official match on October 4, 2019, Northwest was victorious 1-0 after one overtime period.
 
Last Five Matches vs. Washburn
4/11/2021 – Maryville, Mo. – W, 3-2 (2OT)
10/4/2019 – Topeka, Kan. – W, 1-0 (OT)
9/28/2018 – Maryville, Mo. – L, 0-2
10/22/2017 – Topeka, Kan. – L, 1-2
10/23/2016 – Maryville, Mo. – L, 0-2
 
All-Time Series Against the Hornets
The Bearcats hold a 14-10-2 historical advantage over Emporia State but have dropped the last four matches to the Hornets. The latest three of those matches have been played in Emporia. Northwest scored a 1-0 win in Emporia on October 20, 2017.
 
Last Five Matches vs. ESU
4/4/2021 – Emporia, Kan. – L, 0-1
11/8/2019 – Emporia, Kan. – L, 2-3 (2OT)
10/6/2019 – Emporia, Kan. – L, 0-4
9/30/2018 – Maryville, Mo. – L, 0-3
10/20/2017 – Emporia, Kan. – W, 1-0
 
Junior forward Teagan Blackburn has been lighting up the pitch this season, scoring six goals with three of them being game winners. With a goal scored against Central Missouri on Sunday, September 26^th, Blackburn is now tied for seventh place on Northwest's individual career records list for goals (11) with Tammie Eiberger (2011) and Anna Calgaard (2010-13).
 
Northwest Individual Career Records – Goals
1. Victoria Von Mende (2011-12) – 18
2. Beth Gutschenritter (2003-06) – 17
3. Andrea Tritz (2008-09) – 15
4. Kayla Griffin (2005-06) – 13
4. Rory Okey (2000-03) – 13
4. Anna Holden (2014-15) – 13
7. Teagan Blackburn (2019-pres.) – 11
7. Tammie Eiberger (2011) – 11
7. Anna Calgaard (2010-13) – 11
10. Kelsey Sanders (2007-10) – 10
10. Jill Anderson (2000-03) – 10
10. Amanda Bundrant (2009-12) – 10
10. Janel Wegehaupt (1999-00) – 10
 
Blackburn's 0.75 goals per game are tied for 39^th in NCAA Division II. In the MIAA, she is tied for first in the MIAA for game winning goals (3), tied for second in goals (6), and third in points (13).
 
Redshirt-freshman forward Sophie Cissell is tied for first in the MIAA for assists (4) through eight games this season. Cissell posted the assist to Blackburn's game winning goal with seven seconds remaining against Missouri Western on September 19. Cissell is tied for sixth for assists in a single season for Northwest.
 
Northwest Individual Season Records – Assists
1. Marti Trummer (2004) – 6
1. Izzy Romano (2016) – 6
3. Sara Meidlinger (2009) – 5
3. Anna Calgaard (2010) – 5
3. Alex Mausbach (2019) – 5
6. Melissa Cole (1999) – 4
6. Amanda Deml (2007) – 4
6. Tammie Eiberger (2011) – 4
6. Beth Gutschenritter (2004) – 4
6. Renee Judd (2002) – 4
6. Elizabeth Lee (2014) – 4
6. Rory Okey (2002) – 4
6. Krista Pollman (2008) – 4
6. Holly Ramaeker (2006) – 4
6. Izzy Romano (2019) – 4
6. Sophie Cissell (2021) – 4
 
Junior forward Kaylie Rock is inching her way closer to Northwest records as well. In the MIAA, she is currently tied for fourth in shots (30) and tied for third in shots on goal (15). Rock can enter the single season record list for shots on goal with nine more on target shots this season.
 
Junior Letycia Bonifacio and redshirt-freshman Sydney Mueller have been holding down the backfield for the Bearcats this season. While helping the Bearcats to a 4-3-1 start, Bonifacio and Mueller have each started all eight games for Northwest. Bonifacio has played 724 minutes (90.5 min/game) and Mueller has played 709 minutes (88.63 min/game) this season to lead the team.
 
As a team the Bearcats are creeping onto the scene at the national level, tied for 37^th in assists per game (1.75) while also posting top-5 numbers in six statistical categories for the conference. In the MIAA, the Bearcats are first in assists (14), third in shots on goal (73) and saves (51), tied for third in first goals (5), tied for fourth in points (46), and fifth in goals (16).
 
MIAA Numbers
Assists
1. Northwest Missouri (14)
2. Washburn (13)
3. Emporia State (12)
 
Saves
1. Nebraska-Kearney (52)
1. Missouri Southern (52)
3. Northwest Missouri (51)
 
Shots on Goal
1. Central Oklahoma (79)
2. Emporia State (74)
3. Northwest Missouri (73)
 
First Goals
1. Central Oklahoma (8)
2. Emporia State (7)
3. Central Missouri (5)
3. Northwest Missouri (5)