Sunday, Nov. 10 | 1 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State at Central Missouri
Warrensburg, Mo. | South Recreation Complex
WATCH | LIVE STATS
 
The No. 6-seeded Northwest Missouri State women's soccer team is set to face the No. 3-seeded Central Missouri Jennies in the MIAA quarterfinal round on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 1 p.m. in Warrensburg, Mo. 
 
The Bearcats wrapped up their regular season last week, dropping contests to Washburn (2-0) and Emporia State (1-0). 
 
Match Notes: Central Missouri
The Jennies head into Sunday's quarterfinal matchup with a 12-4-2 overall record and a 9-2-1 mark in the MIAA, securing the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Tournament.
 
Senior forward Ashleigh Martin leads UCM's offense with 22 points and nine goals. Caroline Cole has posted a team-high 18 shots on goal and is tied with Izzy Joyce for seven goals.

Head-to-Head
Northwest and UCM met earlier this season in Maryville, battling to an intense 4-4 draw. The Bearcats' four goals in the Oct. 11 matchup marked the most allowed by UCM since 2018 and the second-highest total in the history of the series between the teams.

The last time Northwest and UCM played in the MIAA Tournament was back on Nov. 4, 2011, ending in a 4-0 win for the Jennies. 

2024 MIAA Tournament Schedule
Quarterfinal Matches – Sunday, Nov. 10 – Campus Sites
No. 1 Washburn vs. No. 8 Fort Hays State in Topeka, Kan., 1 p.m.
No. 2 Missouri Western vs. No. 7 Nebraska Kearney in St. Joseph, Mo., 12 p.m.
No. 3 Central Missouri vs. No. 6 Northwest Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo., 1 p.m.
No. 4 Central Oklahoma vs. No. 5 Northeastern State in Edmond, Okla., 1 p.m.

Semifinal Matches -- Thursday, November 14 - Stryker Sports Complex
Semifinal Match One, 12 p.m. in Wichita, Kan.
Semifinal Match Two, 3 p.m. in Wichita, Kan. 

Championship Match -- Saturday, November 16 - Stryker Sports Complex
2 p.m. in Wichita, Kan.
 
2024 MIAA Tournament Seeds

1. Washburn (13-3-2, 10-1-1 MIAA) - y
2. Missouri Western (14-1-3, 9-1-2 MIAA)
3. Central Missouri (12-4-2-, 9-2-1 MIAA)
4. Central Oklahoma (10-5-3, 7-2-3 MIAA)
5. Northeastern State (13-5, 7-5 MIAA)
6. Northwest Missouri State (7-5-6, 5-4-3 MIAA)
7. Nebraska Kearney (8-5-5, 4-5-3 MIAA)
8. Fort Hays State (7-7-4, 4-6-2 MIAA)

y- 2024 MIAA Regular Season Champion

MIAA Individual Statistical Leaders
Ekaterina Theoharidis ranks fourth in the MIAA with eight goals this season, which also ranks 63rd across Div. II.  Theoharidis also has the third-most shots on goal per game with an average of 1.83 and third-best in total points with 21. Goalkeeper Lily Ellis has provided the league's second-most saves so far this season with 106, also in saves per contest (6.63). Ellis' total saves rank No. 15 in Div. II. 
 
2024 Bearcat All-MIAA Honorees
Five members of the Northwest Missouri State women's soccer team have received All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) honors for the 2024 regular season.
 
Head Coach Marc Gordon's squad includes one First-Team All-MIAA honoree, Ximena Arnau, while Ekaterina Theoharidis earned a spot on the All-MIAA Second Team. Additionally, Makenna West, Moira Franck, and goalkeeper Lily Ellis received honorable mention accolades. 

Northwest's MIAA Player of the Week Selections
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)

Last Five MIAA Tournament Appearances
2023 - at Emporia State (L, 3-0)
2022 - vs. Emporia State (L, 1-0)
2021 - vs. #17 Emporia State (L, 2-0)
2020 - COVID PANDEMIC (NO TOURNAMENT)
2019 - at Emporia State (L, 3-2 2OT)

NCAA REGIONAL RANKINGS - WEEK 2

1. Missouri Western
2. Central Missouri
3. Minnesota State
4. Washburn
5. Central Oklahoma
6. St. Cloud State
7. Concordia-St. Paul
8. Northwest Missouri State
9. Northeastern State
10. Augustana (S.D.)

 
Team Statistics
Northwest stands fourth in assists per game (1.22), saves per game (6.33), and fourth total assists (22). With contributions from Ellis and Leyah Scott, the Bearcats stand fourth in the MIAA in save percentage at .851.
 
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 49-47-19 record, and a 25-11-7 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 21 points, 51 shots, 34 shots on goal, and eight goals. Ximena Arnau sits behind with six goals, with Makenna West tallying three. 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 16 of the Bearcats' 18 games this season, making 114 total saves and posting a 5-5-6 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. 264 – 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