Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern soccer program will be hosting #13 Missouri Western and #18 Central Missouri this weekend at Hal Bodon Field to wrap up home games in September.
 
The Lions will kick off from Hal Bodon field against Missouri Western Friday, at 6:00 pm and Sunday against Central Missouri at 2:00 pm. Both games are considered non-conference and they will feature a stream and have live stats associated with them, you can find them at https://mssulions.com/coverage.
 
Southern (1-2-1, 0-0-0 MIAA) is coming a tie and a 4-0 shutout that culminated with goalie Riley Laver being named MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week. Getting on the score sheet last week were Aisley Stevens, Allie Cook, Ashley Koepp, Lily Spikereit and Lainey Waldron with assists from Stevens, Braylee Childers, Maya Greenquist and Mackenzie Scholtz. For the season Jori Hays has a team-high 13 shots (10th in the MIAA), while Ella Durocher has 12, Greenquist has nine, Stevens has six and Koepp has five shots so far. The team lead for shots on goal is a three-way tie between Hays, Greenquist and Durocher with six and Stevens has four shots on goal. In goal Riley Laver has logged the second most minutes in the MIAA (382:29), ranks fourth in the MIAA in saves (19), saves per game (4.75) and save percentage (0.864) and fifth in Goals Against Average (GAA) at 0.706
 
Missouri Western (3-0-1, 0-0-0 MIAA) was picked to finish sixth in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll this season after finishing last season 8-3-1, 4-1 MIAA Northwest, losing to Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Tournament Championship 4-1. The Griffons are coming off a scoreless tie against Wayne State and a 1-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State this past weekend.  Offensively they are led by Kaili Campbell with three goals scored and a team-high 14 shots with 12 being on goal. Jaden Skinner, Eszter Toth, Evelyn Daly and Lillian Davis have also scored a goal while Rina Palmieri has dished out two assists and Kelsey Burkey has an assist as well. In goal Anna Mayer has logged 388:47 minutes in four games, has a GAA of 0.46 with 15 saves and a 0.882 save percentage.
 
Central Missouri (3-1, 0-0 MIAA) was picked to finish third in the MIAA preseason coaches' poll this season and picked up a first-place vote. The Jennies are coming off a 4-3 win over Minnesota State – Mankato with all four goals scored by the Jennies in the second half, and a fell to #3 Grand Valley State 3-0 Sunday. Before taking on the Lions, Central Missouri will take on Northwest Missouri Friday in Warrensburg before making the trip to Joplin. Leading the line offensively Sydney Leslie has two goals as Caroline Cole, Kassie Newsom, Isa Yanes, Julia Kristensen, Ashleigh Martin and Emily Kramer have scored also. Newsom and Martin have dished out two assists and Jordan Austin has one as well. Cole has a team-high 16 shots with Leslie chipping in with 10 and has a team-high seven shots on goal. In goal Lindsey Johnson has logged 360 minutes in four games, has a GAA of 1.50 with 20 saves and a 0.769 save percentage.