Joplin, Mo. – The Missouri Southern soccer program is set to host a pair of MIAA games this weekend with Newman and #12 Central Oklahoma coming to town.
Southern will host Newman on Friday at 6:00pm before closing the week with #12 Central Oklahoma on Sunday at 2:00pm with both games set to be played at Hal Bodon Field.
The Lions (0-7, 0-1 MIAA) are coming off a week of hard fought games against Northwest Missouri and Missouri Western at home. Southern was picked to finish 10th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 3-13-2, 2-9-0 MIAA last season. This year
Kylie Stonestreet is the leading goal scorer with two goals from eight shots and
Ella Durocher has a goal as well.
Maya Greenquist and
Ashley Koepp have provided an assist this season with Koepp also firing off nine shots this year.
Mackenzie Scholtz leads the team with 12 shots and
Aisley Stevens has five shots on goal to lead the team. In goal the Lions have Lily Doneghue and
Riley Laver with Doneghue having 15 saves in three games while having a 2.00 GAA. Laver has appeared in four games and has 25 saves with a 3.50 GAA in 360 minutes.
Newman (0-7-1, 0-1-0 MIAA) is coming off a week where they tied Northeastern State 2-2 before losing 1-0 to Rogers State at home. The Jets were picked to finish 11th in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 1-13-2, 1-9-1 MIAA last year. Leading the charge this year is Jordan Webster in goal with 66 saves in eight games while having a 3.25 GAA in 720 minutes and a 0.717 save percentage. Leading the line on offense is Elle Johnson, Jayln McClean and Maria Stephens with two goals each. Faith Tyner and Kinsey Logan have provided an assist each as well. McClean along with Morgan Houston led the team with seven shots on goal ad McClean has fired off a team-high nine shots so far.
#12 Central Oklahoma (6-0-2, 1-0-0 MIAA) is coming off a week where they tied Rogers State 1-1 before beating Northeastern State 2-0 at home to begin MIAA play. The Bronchos were picked to finish third in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll after making it to the NCAA Central Regional last season. This year the team is led by Madison Linavong with a MIAA leading and tied for the D-II lead with eight assists along with three goals for 14 points, Linavong has also fired off 20 shots with nine being shots on goal. Amaya Grace leads the team with four goals scored while providing an assist for nine points this season and has 22 shots with 10 shots on goal and two game winning goals. Avery Bass and Caroline Faulkner have rotated in goal for the Chos with each starting four games so far. Bass has a 0.76 GAA in 360 minutes of action while recording 16 saves for a 0.842 save percentage and owns a 4-0-0 record along with two shutouts. Faulkner has a 0.86 GAA in 315 minutes of action while recording 13 saves for a 0.813 save percentage and owns a 2-0-2 record along with a shutout.
Up next for the Lions after this weekend will be the first MIAA road week with the Lions taking on Northeastern State and Rogers State. Kickoff from Tahlequah is set for 7:00pm on Friday at DeLoache Field and in Claremore on Sunday at 1:00pm from Solider Field.
