Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern soccer program is set to host #17 Minnesota State – Mankato tomorrow in the first game of the season with kickoff from Hal Bodon Field is set for 6:00pm and make a trip to Rolla to play Missouri S&T on Sunday at noon.
The Lions start the season after playing an exhibition at Division I Missouri State on August 13thand scrimmages against Oklahoma Baptist and Southwest Baptist last week in preparation for the 18 game regular season. This year Southern was picked to finish 10th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll but return all five All-MIAA selections from a season ago in
Riley Laver,
Maya Greenquist,
Jori Hays,
Sofia Fatino and
Banner Williams. 22 returners from a season ago are paired up with two transfers and 10 freshmen to round out the team in Sadé Boswell's first season in charge.
Of those returning 16 have experience in the starting lineup during their careers at Southern and this season's senior class of
Laney Graham,
Riley Laver,
Aisley Stevens and
Ashley Koepp will be looked upon for their leadership and experiences on the field for a team that is mostly underclassmen.
Ella Durocher led the team with four goals for eight points while having .607 shot on goal percentage and a game winning goal. Greenquist was the leader this past season in assists providing three and scored two goals for seven points while having a .593 shot on goal percentage and a game winning goal as well. Stevens was the other Lion to score more than one goal, finishing with two goals and an assist for five points. Laver was the starting goalkeeper for 14 games and finished with 71 saves, three shutouts and a 1.55 GAA.
Lilly Doneghue and
Laney Graham played in four games and started two games each with Doneghue finishing with 19 saves and a 1.61 GAA in 278 minutes while Graham had 17 saves with a 2.46 GAA in 182 minutes.
Mankato comes into the game ranked 17th in the United Soccer Coaches (USC) Poll along with being picked to win the NSIC according to the Preseason Soccer Coaches Poll by the conference. Last year the Mavs went 18-3-2 and 12-1-2 in NSIC action and in the game against the Lions got a 1-0 golden goal win in overtime in Mankato, if that game was played this season it would have ended in a draw as overtime is only used now in conference tournament and NCAA tournament games and not in the regular season.
Leading the line for Mankato is All-American forward Jenny Vetter and All-Region goalkeeper Mackenzie Rath as the Mavs return eight that were consistent starters last year. Allie Williams led the team with eight assists while chipping in with five goals to rank second on the team with 18 points, Vetter was the goal scorer with 19 and provided four assists for 42 points and seven game winning goals. Rath started in all 17 games she appeared in while finishing with 75 saves, 11 shutouts, a 0.58 GAA and was 13-2-2 in decisions. Clare Longueville was the starter for the six games missed by Rath in goal and finished with 23 saves, two shutouts, a 1.05 GAA and was 5-1-0.
After this game at home the Lions will hit the road to take on Missouri S&T in Rolla at the Allgood-Bailey Stadium on August 28th with kickoff set for noon.
The Miners played defending national champinos Grand Valley State to begin the season before the matchup with the Lions. This year the Miners were picked to finish seventh in the GLVC and are bringing back leading goal scorer and assister in Sydney Gratz but will be looking to replace Kristin Steins in goal.
