Friday, Oct. 4 | 7 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State at Central Oklahoma
Edmond, Okla. | Tom Thompson Field
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Sunday, Oct. 6 | 1 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State at Newman
Wichita, Kan. | Wilkins Field
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The Northwest Missouri State University women's soccer team is heading south for a pair of MIAA road contests, taking on the University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos this Friday and the Newman University Jets on Sunday.
 
Last week, Northwest split its MIAA openers with a 3-2 loss at Missouri Western, and a 2-1 Senior day victory over Northeastern State. Midfielder Darrian Gordon netted her first two career goals in the late minutes of action against the Griffons, as Ekaterina Theoharidis and Makenna West provided two late-game goals to seal the victory over the RiverHawks. West's game-winning goal secured her first collegiate goal. 
 
Match Notes: Central Oklahoma
Northwest (3-2-3, 1-1-0 MIAA) first takes its talents to Edmond, Okla., to face Central Oklahoma (4-3-1, 1-0-1 MIAA) at Tom Thompson Field. The Bronchos currently rank fifth in the MIAA standings, coming off a recent 3-1 win against Emporia State.

Head-to-Head
Central Oklahoma leads the all-time series 8-3-1, but Northwest has claimed the last three matchups. Last season, the Bearcats secured a 3-0 shutout victory in Maryville.
 
Last five matchups vs. UCO
10/15/23 – W, 3-0 (H)
10/09/22 – W, 2-0 (A)
10/22/21 – W, 2-1 (H)
10/25/19 – L, 0-8 (A)
10/19/18 – L, 0-3 (H)
 
Graduate student Rebekah George leads the charge for the Bronchos this season with a team-high four goals and nine points. Close behind her are Caleah Carter and Madison Linavong, each with three goals. Freshman Jordan Hahn has made an early impact, leading the team in total shots (22), scoring once. Goalkeeper Avery Bass (2-2-1) has started six games, recording 24 saves and earning one shutout in a 0-0 draw against Washburn. Sharing goalkeeping duties with Bass is Olivia Vigil (2-1-0), who has started two games and made five saves.
 
Match Notes: Newman
The Jets enter Sunday's contest with an overall record of 0-7-1 and 0-2 in the MIAA, currently sitting at the bottom of the standings. Before Sunday's game, Newman will face Missouri Western on Friday. The Jets dropped both of their opening MIAA matchups, losing 2-0 to Emporia State and 3-0 to No. 21 Washburn.
 
Head-to-Head
Northwest has an all-time series lead of 6-2-1, having won three consecutive matches against the Jets. In their last meeting, which took place in Maryville last season, the Bearcats came out with a commanding 5-0 victory. 
 
Last five matchups vs. Newman
10/13/23 – W, 5-0 (H)
10/07/22 – W, 1-0 (A)
10/24/21 – W, 1-0 (H)
10/27/19 – L, 0-1 (A)
9/02/12 – W, 9-1 (H)
 
The Jets have faced difficulties finding the back of the net this season, managing just three goals so far. Graduate student Marta Arana, freshman Lexi Bauer, and sophomore Katrina Kowitz have each contributed one goal apiece. On the defensive end, goalkeeper Carla Apodaca (0-5-1) has started in seven matches, recording 34 saves while facing 99 shots.
 
MIAA Women's Soccer Standings (As of Oct. 1)

1. Missouri Western (7-0-1, 2-0 MIAA)
2. Fort Hays State (5-1-2, 2-0 MIAA)
3. Central Missouri (5-2-1, 2-0 MIAA)
4. Washburn (4-2-2, 1-0-1 MIAA)
5. Central Oklahoma (4-3-1, 1-0-1 MIAA)
6. Nebraska-Kearney (4-0-4, 0-0-2 MIAA)
7. Northwest Missouri State (3-2-3, 1-1 MIAA0
8. Emporia State (3-3-1, 1-1 MIAA)
9. Pittsburg State (4-3-1, 0-1-1 MIAA)
10. Missouri Southern (1-4-3, 0-1-1 MIAA)
11. Northeastern State (6-2, 0-2 MIAA)
12. Rogers State (1-7, 0-2 MIAA)
13. Newman (0-7-1, 0-2 MIAA)

MIAA Individual Statistical Leaders
Theoharidis is tied for third in the MIAA with four goals this season, behind Nebraska-Kearney's Hanna Schimmer with five. Theoharidis also has the third-most shots on goal with 16, second in assists (3), and second in points (11). Goalkeeper Lily Ellis has provided the league's most saves so far this season with 54, also in saves per contest (7.71). 
 
Additional Notes
Head Coach Marc Gordon is in his seventh year leading Northwest's soccer program. Under his leadership, the Bearcats have had three consecutive winning seasons, compiling a 22-8-5 record in MIAA play over the last three years. Last season, they finished 8-5-6 and reached the MIAA quarterfinals before losing to Emporia State.
  
Northwest's 2024 team captains are senior Ashton Dain (Olathe, Kan.), junior Moira Franck (Monument, Colo.), and senior Sydney Mueller (Gretna, Neb.). The squad features a veteran core with ten seniors on the roster.
 
Theoharidis leads the team with 10 points, 24 shots, and 16 shots on goal, and now four goals. Ximena Arnau has already matched her goal total from last year in just five games. Senior Emily Yakle notched her first career goal with a game-winner against Augustana on Sept. 18. 
 
Ellis has started seven of the Bearcats' nine games this season, making 54 total saves and posting a 2-2-3 record and pinching two shutouts. Ellis recorded a season-high 12 saves against Grand Valley State. She now ranks fourth in Bearcat history with 212 career saves. 
 
Both Ellis and Arnau were named MIAA Athletes of the Week (9/17/24) for their performances during that week. Arnau (Kansas City, Mo.) has been named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week for the first time in her early career. Arnau scored three goals total, including the game-winning goal, in a 3-1 victory against Southwest Baptist. She netted two goals in that win and contributed Northwest's only goal in a 1-1 draw against No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State. Over the course of three matches and 240 minutes of play, Arnau took 11 shots, with four on target. 

Ellis (Kearney, Mo.) captured her fifth MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week award. Ellis recorded her 22nd career shutout with seven saves in a 0-0 draw against No. 15-ranked Minnesota State. She tallied 12 saves and allowed just one goal in a 1-1 tie against No. 2-ranked Grand Valley State. Ellis now ranks No. 4 in Bearcat history with 212 career saves.
 
Career Saves
1. 394 - Kelsey Adams, 2010-13
2. 339 - Kathie Leach, 1999-01
3. 306 - Alison Sheridan, 2003-06
4. 212 – Lily Ellis, 2022-pres.
5. 204 - Ashley Malloy, 2014-17
6. 196 - Kira Lazenby, 2008-09
7. 174 - Alexis Serna Castillo, 2018-21
8. 156 - Michelle Goold, 2002, 04-05
9. 108 - Danielle Lawless, 2001-03
10. 77 - Ashley Williams, 2020-21
 
Northwest moves up a spot to No. 5 after notching a victory over Northeastern State, who was ranked above the Bearcats last week. 
 
United Soccer Coaches' NCAA Div. II Central Region Poll (As of Oct. 1)
1. Central Missouri (MIAA)
2. Minnesota State (NSIC)
3. Washburn (MIAA)
4. Missouri Western (MIAA)
5. Northwest Missouri State (MIAA)
6. Northeastern State (MIAA)
7. Concordia-St. Paul (NSIC)
8. St. Cloud State (NSIC)
9. Central Oklahoma (MIAA)
10. Southern Nazarene (GAC) 
 
Northwest is picked to finish fourth in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, receiving 99 points in the voting to edge out Emporia State by one point for the fourth spot. 
 
2024 MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Washburn [9] – 137 points 
2. Central Missouri [3] – 131 points
3. Fort Hays State – 112 points
4. Northwest Missouri State – 99 points
5. Emporia State – 98 points
6. Missouri Western [1] – 86 points
7. Central Oklahoma – 82 points
8. Northeastern State – 77 points
9. Rogers State – 58 points
10. Nebraska Kearney – 46 points
11. Pittsburg State – 39 points
12. Newman – 29 points
13. Missouri Southern – 20 points 
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes
4-8