Friday, Oct. 24 | 12:00 p.m.
No. 23 Northwest Missouri State vs. Missouri Southern 
Joplin, Mo. | Hal Bodon Field 
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Sunday, Oct. 26 | 1:00 p.m.
No. 23 Northwest Missouri State vs. Pittsburg State   
Pittsburg, Kan. | Gorilla Soccer Pitch 
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The No. 23-ranked Northwest Missouri State University women's soccer team is heading off for back-to-back games this weekend with a match against Missouri Southern State University on Friday in Joplin, Mo. followed by a contest in Pittsburg, Kan. against Pittsburg State University on Sunday.
 
Last week the Bearcats triumphed over Fort Hays State with a decisive 2-0 victory and secured a 1-0 win against Nebraska-Kearny thanks to game winning goals from Makenna West in both games. Northwest, having improved their record 9-3 and 6-1 in conference play, has now moved up to No. 23 in the national rankings and No. 1 in the MIAA standings.
 
Match Notes: Missouri Southern State University
So far this season, the Lions have an overall record of 2-8-3 and a 0-5-2 mark in MIAA play. MSSU are currently ranked No. 12 in the MIAA standings. Last week, Missouri Southern lost its match to Central Oklahoma 4-2. 
 
Head-to-Head
Northwest holds the all-time series lead, 23-14-4, with Northwest having won or tied the last nine matches. Last season the Bearcats secured a 4-1 win in Maryville, Mo. against the Lions. Top standout for Missouri Southern is Sophomore Presley Whitmire who has the top stats for the Lions with four goals, 32 shots, and 18 shots on goal. Following close behind are Talia Sanders and Daniela Marquez who have three and two goals, and 19 and 9 shots respectively. Another standout for the offense is Nathalia Luiz who has 16 shots with 10 of them on target but only one goal. For the defense the Lions have mainly relied on Junior goalkeeper Bella Smith, who has racked up 70 saves while facing 214 shots this season. Smith has played in 12 out of 13 games this season.
 
Match Notes: Pittsburg State University
The Gorillas will enter Sunday's contest with an overall record of 9-2-2 and 4-1-2 in the MIAA and are currently ranked No. 5 in the MIAA standings. Pittsburg State won their only game last week against Newman, 3-1. Before facing the Bearcats, the Gorillas will take on Missouri Western on Friday in Pittsburg, Kan.
 
Head-to-Head
Pittsburg State has the all-time series lead of 1-0, with only one match up between the teams after the creation of the Pittsburg State University women's soccer team in 2023 with its debut in 2024's fall season. The match last season took place in Maryville and ended in a 1-0 win for the Gorillas. Freshman Ella Cazzavillan has dominated offensively for the Gorillas, with team-high four goals, team-high 11 points, and 29 shots. Following close behind is Carrie Cunningham and Mia Hunt each with three goals. Cunningham has team-high shots with 28 and team-high shots on goal with 17. Sophomore Goalkeeper Jocelyn Kramar 19 saves and six shutouts while facing 54 shots this season. 
 
MIAA Women's Soccer Standings (As of Oct. 21)
1. Northwest Missouri State (9-3, 6-1 MIAA)
2. Central Missouri (8-2-4, 5-0-3 MIAA)
3. Washburn (8-2-3, 5-0-2 MIAA)
4. Missouri Western (8-1-3, 4-1-2 MIAA)
5. Pittsburg State (9-2-2, 4-1-2 MIAA)
6. Emporia State (7-4-2, 4-1-2 MIAA)
7. Central Oklahoma (5-4-5, 3-2-3 MIAA)
8. Northeastern State (7-5-1, 2-4-1 MIAA)
9. Rogers State (1-5-6, 1-3-3 MIAA)
10. Nebraska Kearney (2-7-4, 0-4-4 MIAA)
11. Fort Hays State (3-9-1, 1-6-1 MIAA)
12. Missouri Southern (2-8-3, 0-5-2 MIAA)
13. Newman (1-11-2, 0-7-1 MIAA)
 
Additional Notes:
Northwest is currently ranked No. 23 in the United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II National Women's Rankings. 
 
United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division II National Women's Rankings (Oct. 21)
1. Dallas Baptist University (12-0-0)
2. Minnesota State University-Mankato (11-0-2)
3. Cal Poly Pomona (11-1-1)
4. Catawba College (11-0-2)
5. Grand Valley State University (9-2-0)
6. University of West Florida (12-0-2)
7. Gannon University (12-0-1)
8. Colorado School of Mines (9-2-1)
9. University of North Georgia (12-1-1)
10. Thomas Jefferson University (10-1-1)
11. Western Washington University (9-1-3)
12. University of Central Missouri (8-2-4)
13. Nova Southeastern University (9-0-3)
14. University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (10-2-2)
15. Ashland University (9-2-2)
16. Mercy University (10-1-2)
17. Francis Marion University (12-0-0)
18. Bloomsburg University (8-2-2)
19. Simon Fraser University (9-1-2)
20. Colorado Mesa University (10-2-0)
21. West Chester University (8-1-3)
22. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) (5-0-6)
23. Northwest Missouri State University (9-3-0)
24. McKendree University (8-1-4)
25. Azusa Pacific University (8-1-3)
 
Northwest is currently ranked No. 3 in the United Soccer Coaches Central Region Rankings.
 
United Soccer Coaches Central Region Rankings (Oct. 21)
1. Minnesota State University-Mankato (11-0-2)
2. University of Central Missouri (8-2-4)
3. Northwest Missouri State University (9-3-0)
4. Missouri Western State University (8-1-3)
5. Concordia University-St. Paul (8-2-3)
6. Washburn University (8-2-3)
7. Augustana University (9-2-2)
8. Bemidji State University (8-2-3)
9. St. Cloud State University (8-1-4)
10. Pittsburg State University (9-2-2)
 
The Bearcats have had ten different goal scorers in 2025. Junior Makenna West currently leads the Bearcats with five goals, 34 shots with 14 of them on goal, and has scored four game winning goals, earning the team-high in every category. West was named MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week honors for the second time this season and is now tied for fourth for goals scored and tied for first for gaming winning goals in the MIAA the season. Following close behind is senior Margaret Madden with four goals, 17 shots, with 11 of them on target. 
 
With two shutouts over the weekend, senior goalkeeper Lily Ellis earned her 35th career shutout at Northwest where she still holds the school record for most shutouts in an individual's career. Ellis was named this week's MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week which marks the eighth time in Ellis's Bearcat career she has earned the MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week award. Ellis is now tied for No. 1 for shutouts and has the highest shutout percentage at 55.6% on the NCAA Division II active career leaders list.
 
NCAA Div. II Active Career Leaders - Shutouts
1. 35, Lily Ellis (Northwest Missouri State)
    35, Julia Pinnell (Point Loma)
2. 29, Keely Wieczorek (Colorado Mesa)
3. 28, Riley Urquiza (CUI)  
4. 26, Sarah Loewen (Simon Fraser)
 
NCAA Div. II Active Career Leaders – Shutout Percentage
1. 55.6%, Lily Ellis (Northwest Missouri State)
2. 54.5%, Agnes Vilen (Maryville University)
3. 53.3%, Sydney Potter (Concordia-St. Paul)
4. 52.8%, Katy Fitzler (Drury)
5. 52.7%, Keely Wieczorek (Colorado Mesa)
    
Northwest Career Leaders - Shutouts
1. 35, Lily Ellis (2022-pres.)
2. 16, Kira Lazenby (2008-09)
3. 11, Kelsey Adams (2010-13)
4. 9, Kathlie Leach (1999-2001)
5. 7, Ashley Malloy (2014-17)
 
Ellis also has reached 338 saves and is now fourth on the NCAA Div. II active career list. She also has the third most saves of goalkeepers who have played for Northwest.
 
NCAA Div. II Active Career Leaders - Saves
1. 401, Becca Schultz (Daemen)
2. 355, Samantha Merklin (Bloomsburg)
3. 346, Gianna Bonnett (Southern Nazarene)
4. 338, Lily Ellis (Northwest Missouri State)
5. 331, Megan Miller (Lock. Haven)
 
Northwest Career Leaders - Saves
1. 394, Kelsey Adams (2010-13)
2. 339, Kathie Leach (1999-2001)
3. 338, Lily Ellis (2022-pres.)
4. 306, Alison Sheridan (2003-06)
5. 204, Ashley Malloy (2014-17)
 
Ellis is Northwest leaders in goalkeeper victories as well with a record of 31-18-14.
 
Northwest Career Leaders – Goalkeeper Wins
1. 31-18-14, Lily Ellis (2022-pres.)
2. 21-29-8, Kelsey Adams (2010-13)
    21-33-5, Alison Sheridan (2003-06)
4. 20-16-3, Kira Lazenby (2008-09)
5. 15-25-1, Kathie Leach (1999-2001)
 
Head Coach Marc Gordon is in his eighth season leading the Bearcat soccer program. Last season, Northwest posted a record of 7-6-6 overall, ending its season in the MIAA quarterfinal round to University of Central Missouri. Northwest has produced four straight winning seasons under Gordon and has gone 41-23-16 in MIAA play over the previous four campaigns.
 
Northwest has named Senior Lily Ellis (Kearney, Mo), Senior Moira Franck (Monument, Colo.), and Margaret Madden (Papillion, Neb.) as captains for the 2025 season. Returning to the team this season Northwest has four out of five players recognized by the MIAA last year with Ximena Arnau being a First-Team All-MIAA selection, and Makenna West, Moira Franck, Lily Ellis receiving Honorable All-MIAA Mentions.