Friday, Oct. 11 | 3 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs No. 5 Central Missouri 
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Pitch
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, Oct. 13 | 1 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State vs Rogers State
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Pitch
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State women's soccer team (4-2-4, 2-1-1 MIAA) is back on its home turf this weekend, hosting a pair of key MIAA matchups. The Bearcats will face No. 5 Central Missouri on Friday before wrapping up the weekend against Rogers State on Sunday.
 
Last week, Northwest pitched a scoreless shutout to Central Oklahoma, then came out with a 2-0 shutout win at Newman on Sunday, thanks to a pair of goals from Margaret Madden. 
 
Match Notes: Central Missouri 
The Jennies head into Friday's match ranked No. 5 in Division II, and second in the MIAA standings, boasting an overall record of 7-2-1 and remaining unbeaten in four MIAA games. Last week, Central Missouri secured a 2-0 shutout victory against Fort Hays State, followed by a commanding 7-1 win over Nebraska Kearney.

Central Missouri forward Ashleigh Martin leads the MIAA with six goals. Last week, she achieved a hat trick against Nebraska Kearney. Additionally, Caroline Cole and Izzy Joyce have each contributed four goals, while goalkeeper Kristen Wright holds a record of 7-2-1 with a .913 save percentage so far.

Head-to-Head
Northwest has only secured three victories against Central Missouri in 44 matchups, with five games ending in draws. Last season, the Bearcats faced the Jennies twice, resulting in losses of 2-0 and 3-0. The last time they drew with Central Missouri was on September 26, 2021, in a double-overtime match that finished 2-2. The Bearcats last defeated the Jennies on November 6, 2009.
 
Match Notes: Rogers State
The Hillcats (1-7-1, 0-2-2 MIAA) will compete in their only match of the week this Sunday in Maryville. Last week, Rogers State played to draws against Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern, with its lone victory of the season coming earlier against non-conference opponent Ouachita Baptist, where they won 2-1.

Redshirt freshman Taylor Colmo leads RSU with two goals, having appeared in six games with one start, and has recorded two shots on goal. Alix Tirado-Negrete tops the Hillcats in both total shots (31) and shots on target (16). Goalkeepers Tiffany Brittan (0-4-2) and Marlou Frieling (1-3-0) have split time in goal, with Brittan achieving RSU's only shutout this season.
 
Head-to-Head
Northwest holds an unbeaten all-time record of 4-0 against Rogers State, with its most recent matchup occurring on Oct. 22 of last season, where they secured a 1-0 victory in Claremore, Okla.
 
MIAA Women's Soccer Standings (As of Oct. 9)

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

 
MIAA Individual Statistical Leaders
Ekaterina Theoharidis is ranks fourth in the MIAA with four goals this season. 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 64, also in saves per contest (7.11).
 
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 23-8-6 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, 25 shots, and 167shots on goal, and 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. 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 nine of the Bearcats' ten games this season, making 64 total saves and posting a 2-2-4 record and four shutouts. Ellis recorded a season-high 12 saves against Grand Valley State. She now ranks fourth in Bearcat history with 222 career saves. Adding to Ellis' success in goal, she recorded her 25th career shutout, which ranks No. 5 among all NCAA Div. II active goalkeepers. 
 
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. 222 – 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 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 remain at No. 5 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Central Region poll. 
 
United Soccer Coaches' NCAA Div. II Central Region Poll (As of Oct. 8)

1. Central Missouri
2. Minnesota State
3. Washburn
4. Missouri Western
5. Northwest Missouri State
6. Northeastern State
7. Concordia-St. Paul
8. St. Cloud State
9. Bemidji State
10. Southern Nazarene