Friday, Nov. 1 | 6 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State at No. 20 Washburn
Topeka, Kan. | Yager Stadium
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Sunday, Nov. 3 | 1 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs. Emporia State
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Pitch 
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The Northwest Missouri State women's soccer team wraps up conference play this week, starting with No. 20 Washburn on the road Friday, Nov. 1, at 6 p.m., followed by a home match against Emporia State on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m.
 
Northwest is coming off a weekend split with Missouri Southern (W, 4-1) and Pittsburg State (L, 1-0), before heading into the final week of MIAA action. 
 
Match Notes: Washburn
The Ichabods enter Friday's match with an impressive 10-3-2 overall record, standing 7-1-1 in the MIAA, and ranked 20th nationally. Washburn leads the country with a .800 shutout percentage, anchored by goalkeeper Hailey Beck, who has recorded 10 shutouts this season—ranking second in NCAA Division II. The Ichabods also place third in shots per game (3.13) and lead in game-winning goals, with three on the season.
 
Senior forward Khloe Schuckman leads Washburn with 16 points, contributing six goals, four assists, and two game-winners. Ana Muruzabal follows with four goals and a total of nine points for the 'Bods this season.

Head-to-Head
Washburn holds a 15-10-5 edge on Northwest in the all-time series, with its last matchup coming last season on Oct. 8, ending in a 1-1 draw in Maryville, Mo. In its last six matchups, Northwest has tallied a 5-0-1 record. 
 
Last six matchups vs. Washburn
T, 1-1 (10/08/23)
W, 3-0 (10/30/22)
W, 1-0 (10/02/22)
W, 5-0 (11/07/21)
W, 5-0 (10/01/21)
W, 1-0 OT (10/04/19)
 
Match Notes: Emporia State
The Hornets will host Missouri Western before traveling to Maryville. Emporia State holds a 5-7-2 overall record and is 3-5-1 in conference play. Thirteen different players have scored for the Hornets this season, with Hadlie Lowe, Megan Jeremias, and Megyn Mahloch leading the team at three goals each.
 
Goalkeeper Mackenzi Goen (5-5-2) has made 54 saves across 13 starts, contributing three shutouts for the Hornets.

Head-to-Head
The all-time series between Northwest and Emporia State remains close, with Emporia State holding a slight edge at 19-16-3. In their last ten matchups, the Bearcats have managed one tie but lost the other nine games. Northwest's most recent victory over Emporia State came on October 20, 2017, with a 1-0 win in Emporia, Kansas.
 
Team Statistics:
Ranked fourth in the MIAA, Northwest stands third in assists per game (1.38), saves per game (6.63), and total assists (22). With contributions from Ellis and Leyah Scott, the Bearcats lead the MIAA in save percentage at .862.
 
MIAA Individual Statistical Leaders
Ekaterina Theoharidis tops the MIAA with eight goals this season, which also ranks No. 47 across Division II.  Theoharidis also has the second-most shots on goal per game with 23 and league-best in total points with 21. Goalkeeper Lily Ellis has provided the league's second-most saves so far this season with 98, also in saves per contest (7.00). Ellis' total saves rank No. 11 in Division II. 
 
MIAA Women's Soccer Standings (As of Oct. 31)

1. Missouri Western (14-0-2, 9-0-1 MIAA)
2. Washburn (10-3-2, 7-1-1 MIAA)
3. Central Missouri (10-4-2, 7-2-1 MIAA)
4. Northwest Missouri State (7-3-6, 5-2-3 MIAA)
5. Central Oklahoma (8-5-3, 5-2-3 MIAA)
6. Fort Hays State (7-4-4, 4-3-2 MIAA)
7. Northeastern State (10-5, 4-5 MIAA)
8. Pittsburg State (7-6-2, 3-4-2 MIAA)
9. Emporia State (5-7-2, 3-5-1 MIAA)
10. Nebraska Kearney (6-4-5, 2-4-3 MIAA)
11. Rogers State (2-10-3, 1-5-3 MIAA)
12. Missouri Southern (1-10-4, 0-7-2 MIAA)
13. Newman (0-15-1, 0-10 MIAA)

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 49-45-19 record, and a 25-9-7 record in MIAA play over the last three years. Last season, Northwest 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 20 points, 46 shots, 33 shots on goal, and eight goals. Ximena Arnau sits behind with six goals. Heating up, Makenna West has tallied three goals in her last nine games. Senior Emily Yakle notched her first career goal with a game-winner against Augustana on Sept. 18. Darrian Gordon tallied her first two goals against Missouri Western, as Margaret Madden scored twice in a win at Newman, also her first collegiate goals. 
 
Ellis has started 14 of the Bearcats' 16 games this season, making 98 total saves and posting a 5-3-6 record and six shutouts. Ellis recorded a season-high 12 saves against Grand Valley State. She now ranks fourth in Bearcat history with 256 career saves. Adding to Ellis' success in goal, she recorded her 27th career shutout against Nebraska Kearney.
 
Ellis (Kearney, Mo.) captured her sixth MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week award on Oct. 8. 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. 
 
Career Saves
1. 394 - Kelsey Adams, 2010-13
2. 339 - Kathie Leach, 1999-01
3. 306 - Alison Sheridan, 2003-06
4. 256 – 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's Single-Season Goals
1. 11 - Tammie Eiberger, 2011
    11 - Victoria Von Mende, 2011
3. 10 - Kaylie Rock, 2021
4. 9 - Teagan Blackburn, 2021
     9 - Kaylie Rock, 2023
6. 8 - Rory Okey, 2000
    8 - Andrea Tritz, 2008
    8 – Ekaterina Theoharidis, 2024
8.  7 - Beth Gutschenritter, 2004
     7 - Andrea Tritz, 2009
     7 - Holly Ramaeker, 2008
     7 - Kayla Griffin, 2006
     7 - Beth Gutschenritter, 2003
     7 - Victoria Von Mende, 2012
 
Northwest's MIAA Player of the Week Selections (2024)
Lily Ellis – Oct. 8, 2024 (Goalkeeper of the Week)
Ximena Arnau – Sept. 17, 2024 (Offensive Player of the Week)
Lily Ellis – Sept. 17, 2024 (Goalkeeper of the Week)
 
The Bearcats were featured in the initial NCAA's Regional rankings list this week. All rankings were listed in alphabetical order, with numerical rankings coming out next week. 

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS - WEEK 1 (ALPHABETICALLY)
Augustana (8-4-3)
Central Missouri (10-4-2)
Central Oklahoma (8-5-3)
Concordia-St. Paul (9-3-3)
University of Mary (8-3-3)
Minnesota State (10-1-5)
Missouri Western (14-0-2)
Northwest Missouri State (7-3-6)
St. Cloud State (10-2-4)
Washburn (10-3-2)