Sunday, Oct. 11 | 1 p.m.
Northwest Missouri State (1-7-3, 1-3-2 MIAA) at Nebraska-Kearney (3-6-3, 1-4-1 MIAA)
Kearney, Neb. (Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field)
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The Northwest Missouri State University women's soccer team will have a rare single-match week when the Bearcats travel to Kearney, Neb., to take on the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
The Bearcats (1-7-3 overall, 1-3-2 MIAA) are tied for ninth place with five points in the MIAA standings. The top eight teams will qualify for the 2026 MIAA Tournament. The quarterfinal round, which will be played at campus sites, is set for Sunday, Nov. 1. The highest remaining seed will play host to the semifinals (Nov. 6) and final (Nov. 8).
 
Nebraska-Kearney is 3-6-3 overall and 1-4-1 in league play. The Lopers sit in 11th place in the MIAA standings with four points. The Lopers's lone MIAA victory came in a 2-0 triumph at Newman on Oct. 2. The Lopers have been outscored 11-3 in MIAA matches.
 
Northwest owns a 5-3-5 all-time record against Nebraska-Kearney on the pitch. Northwest is unbeaten vs. UNK in the last six meetings with the Bearcats holding a 3-0-3 edge. UNK has not scored against Northwest since a 2-1 overtime win for the Bearcats in their 2021 encounter in Kearney, Neb.
 
Northwest secured its first win of the season with a 3-1 triumph over the Newman Jets in Wichita, Kan. (Sept. 25). The Bearcat offense exploded for three goals from Jenna Lloyd, Ximena Arnau and Julia Coacher to get past the Jets. Goalkeeper Taryn Lewis notched her first collegiate victory.
 
Five Bearcats have scored Northwest's seven goals this season. Julia Coacher (3) Ximena Arnau (2), Lillie Shaw (2), Mackenzie Jordan and Jenna Lloyd have found the back of the net this season for the 'Cats.
 
Junior Julia Coacher is the lone Bearcat to have scored a goal and to have been credited with an assist this season. Coacher leads the squad with three goals and two assists to account for her team-topping eight points. Coacher added to those totals this past week with a goal against Central Missouri and an assist vs. Missouri Southern.
 
Junior Lillie Shaw has taken 14 shots with 10 on goal. Shaw scored a goal against Maryville that allowed the Bearcats and Saints to tie, 1-1 (Sept. 3). Shaw collected her second goal of the season in a 1-1 tie vs. Missouri Southern (Oct. 2). Shaw has scored four career goals and has two career assists. She has played in 44 games and made 26 starts for the Bearcats over the past three seasons.
 
Senior Ximena Arnau connected on a penalty kick for Northwest's goal at Bemidji State (Aug. 30. Arnau is 3-of-4 on penalty kicks in her Bearcat career. Arnau collected the game-winning goal in a 3-1 victory at Newman (Sept. 25). Arnau has tallied 12 career goals in her four seasons donning the Green and White. Arnau has gained eight career assists to tie for No. 8 all-time in program history. Arnau ranks No. 10 on Northwest's all-time points list with 32. Arnau has posted four career game-winning goals to rank tied for ninth in program history. Arnau was a second-team all-MIAA pick in 2025.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER POINTS
1. 78 - Kaylie Rock, 2019-23
2. 49 - Teagan Blackburn, 2019-23
3. 41 - Victoria Von Mende, 2011-12
4. 39 - Beth Gutschenritter, 2003-06
5. 35 - Anna Calgaard, 2010-13
     35 - Adell Gore, 2021-24
7. 34 - Rory Okey, 2000, 02-03
8. 33 - Andrea Tritz, 2008-09
    33 - Ekaterina Theohiridis, 2023-24
10. 32 – Ximena Arnau, 2023-pr.

NORTHWEST CAREER ASSISTS
1. 22 - Kaylie Rock, 2019-23
2. 13 - Anna Calgaard, 2010-13
3. 12 - Izzy Romano, 2016-19
4. 11 - Marti Trummer, 2004-07
     11 - Teagan Blackburn, 2019-23
6. 9 - Sophie Cissell, 2020-22
     9 - Adell Gore, 2021-24
8. 8 - Holly Ramaeker, 2006-08
    8 - Krista Pollman, 2005-08
    8 - Rory Okey, 2000,02-03
    8 - Jamie Campbell, 2003-06
    8 - Ximena Arnau, 2023-pr.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER GAME-WINNING GOALS
1. 9 - Teagan Blackburn, 2019-23
    9 - Kaylie Rock, 2019-23
3. 8 - Andrea Tritz, 2008-09
4. 6 - Hannah Stirling, 2021-23
    6 - Makenna West, 2023-26
6. 5 - Kelsey Sanders, 2007-10
    5 - Victoria Von Mende, 2011-12
    5 - Adell Gore, 2021-24
9. 4 - Rory Okey, 2000-03
     4 - Kayla Griffin, 2005-06
     4 - Anna Holden, 2012-15
     4 - Ximena Arnau, 2023-pr.
 
Freshman Jenna Lloyd tallied her first career goal against Newman (Sept. 25).
 
Sophomore Mackenzie Jordan tallied her first goal of the season and second career goal in a 2-1 setback at home vs. Northeastern State (Sept. 18).
 
Senior goalkeeper Leyah Scott helped produce a pair of ties vs. Missouri Southern and No. 18-ranked Central Missouri. Scott made three saves against MSSU. She added seven saves against the Jennies. Scott is credited with a team-high 37 saves and a 1.50 goals against average.


Northwest was picked to finish sixth in the 2026 MIAA Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bearcats placed fifth last year in the MIAA race with a mark of 7-4-1 in league play.
 
2026 MIAA WOMEN'S SOCCER PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Washburn [7] – 138 points
2. Pittsburg State [6] – 136 points
3. Central Missouri – 119 points
4. Missouri Western – 108 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 96 points
6. Northwest Missouri State – 92 points
7. Emporia State – 85 points
8. Northeastern State – 66 points
9. Nebraska Kearney – 45 points
10. Fort Hays State – 43 points
11. Rogers State – 41 points
12. Missouri Southern – 25 points
13. Newman – 22 points
[#] - First Place Votes
 
Head coach Marc Gordon has served as the program's leader since the 2018 season. Gordon is the only coach in Bearcat history with a winning record (60-61-24). Gordon's teams have been productive in the MIAA with a 39-33-13 mark in conference matches. Gordon was the 2021 MIAA Coach of the Year and led the Bearcats to their only NCAA Tournament bids in 2021 and 2022.
 
Gordon has led Northwest to six consecutive MIAA Tournament appearances. Gordon has helped guide Northwest to five consecutive winning seasons. Prior to Gordon taking over, Northwest had four winning seasons in program history.