Wednesday, Sept. 17 | 3:00 p.m.
Northwest vs Southwest Baptist University
Maryville, Mo. | Bearcat Pitch 
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Saturday, Sept. 20 | 1:00 p.m.
Northwest at Oral Roberts University
Tulsa, Okla. | Case Soccer Complex 
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Northwest Missouri State (2-2 overall) will begin their week at home on Wednesday with a match against Southwest Baptist University (2-2 overall), followed by an exhibition match against Oral Roberts University (5-3-1 overall) in Tulsa, Okla. on Saturday.
 
Last week on Wednesday the Bearcats battled the University of Missouri-St. Louis for a 1-0 shutout win, thanks to a second-half goal from Margaret Madden. Northwest then took on Maryville University on Friday in an aggressive match, ending in a 2-1 win for the Saints. 
 
Match Notes: Southwest Baptist University
Northwest (2-2 overall) will first defend its home turf against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats (2-2 overall) at 3 p.m. on Wednesday. Southwest Baptist has faced three MIAA foes this season, beating Missouri Southern and Newman University, 3-1 and 2-1 respectively, and lost to Pittsburg State University, 1-5.
 
Head-to-Head
Southwest Baptist leads the all-time series 18-15, but Northwest has won four out of the five last matchups. Last season, the Bearcats secured a 3-1 victory in Bolivar, Mo. 
 
Last five matchups vs. Southwest Baptist
09/10/24 – W, 3-1 (A)
09/08/19 – L, 2-5 (A)
10/14/18 – W, 3-2 (A)
09/29/17, W, 6-0 (H)
09/29/16, W, 3-0 (A)
 
Match Notes: Oral Roberts University (Exhibition Match)
To conclude Northwest's non-conference play, Northwest will travel to Tulsa, Okla. to take on Oral Roberts University (5-3-1 overall) for the first meeting in either program's history, for an exhibition match. In their most recent matchup, the Golden Eagles topped the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, 3-1. 
 
Additional Notes:
Goalkeeper Lily Ellis had her 29th shutout of her career in Northwest's first game where she still holds the school record for most shutouts in an individual's career. Ellis has tallied 29 career shutouts and ranks No. 2 on the NCAA Division II active career leaders list for shutouts.
 
1. 32, Julia Pinnell (Point Loma)
2. 29, Lily Ellis (Northwest Missouri State)
3. 23, Amanda Farris (Texas Woman's)
    23, Carson Thomson-Terrel (Cal Poly Humboldt)
    23, Keely Wieczorek (Colorado Mesa)
 
Ellis's 291 saves ranks No. 5 on the NCAA Div. II active career list.
 
1. 317, Samantha Merklin (Bloomsburg)
2. 311, Gianna Bonnett (Southern Nazarene)
3. 309, Becca Schultz (Daemen)
4. 294, Megan Miller (Lock. Haven)
5. 291, Lily Ellis (Northwest Missouri State)
 
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. 
 
Northwest was picked to finish sixth in the preseason MIAA coaches' poll, receiving 89 points total. 
 
2025 MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Central Missouri [4] – 132 points
2. Central Oklahoma [4] – 126 points
3. Missouri Western – 124 points
4. Washburn [5] – 123 points
5. Northeastern State – 92 points
6. Northwest Missouri State – 89 points
7. Pittsburg State – 71 points
8. Nebraska Kearney – 69 points
9. Fort Hays State – 63 points
10. Emporia State – 53 points
11. Rogers State – 37 points
12. Missouri Southern – 19 points
13. Newman – 16 points 
[#] - Number of First Place Votes