Sunday, Sept. 28 | 1:00 p.m.
Northwest vs Northeastern State University
Tahlequah, Okla | Deloache Field 
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Northwest Missouri State (3-2 overall) will begin MIAA competition on Sunday with a road game against Northeastern State University (5-1 overall).
 
Last week Northwest defended their home turf against Southwest Baptist University, taking home a 3-1 victory in the battle of the Bearcats. Northwest then traveled to Tulsa, Okla. for some exhibition play against Oral Roberts University with the match ending in favor of the Golden Eagles, 5-1. 
 
Match Notes: Northeastern State University
Northwest (3-2 overall) will take on Northeastern State (5-1 overall) in Tahlequah, Okla. on Sunday at 1 p.m. Northeastern State has had a strong start to their season, only losing one match so far to the University of Texas at Tyler, 2-1. Most recently Northeastern State took on Missouri Southern University, ending in a 4-2 victory for the RiverHawks. Before facing the Bearcats, the RiverHawks will take on Central Missouri on Friday. 
 
Head-to-Head
Northeastern State leads the all-time series 10-7-1, but Northwest has won three out of the five last matchups. Last season, the Bearcats secured a 2-1 comeback victory at home. Northeastern State placed 5th in the MIAA coaches poll, outranking Northwest by only three points. 
 
Last five matchups vs. Northeastern State
10/29/24 – W, 2-1 (H)
10/20/23 – W, 2-0 (A)
10/14/22 – W, 1-0 (H)
10/17/21 – L, 2-1 (A)
10/20/19 – L, 2-1 (H)
 
Additional Notes:
Goalkeeper Lily Ellis has had 29 shutout games during her career at Northwest where she still holds the school record for most shutouts in an individual's career. Ellis ranks No. 2 on the NCAA Division II active career leaders list for shutouts.

1. 34, Julia Pinnell (Point Loma)
2. 29, Lily Ellis (Northwest Missouri State)
3. 25, Amanda Farris (Texas Woman's)
4. 23, Keely Wieczorek (Colorado Mesa)
    23, Emmy Clarkson (East Stroudsburg)
    23, Carson Thomson-Terrel (Cal Poly Humboldt)
    23, Riley Urquiza (CUI)    
 
Ellis's 292 saves ranks No. 5 on the NCAA Div. II active career list.
 
1. 338, Samantha Merklin (Bloomsburg)
2. 331, Gianna Bonnett (Southern Nazarene)
3. 325, Becca Schultz (Daemen)
4. 302, Megan Miller (Lock. Haven)
5. 292, 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