Kearney, Neb. - The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team, riding a two-game winning streak, will face one of its biggest tests of the season Friday afternoon when the Lopers battle the Abilene Christian Wildcats.

The 4:00 p.m. game will be played at MIAA-member Missouri Southern State in Joplin, Mo., about an eight hour drive for both teams. To follow the action, go to MSSU's live stats.

Last year, ACU was one of the best teams in the nation, going 20-2-1 and reaching the NCAA Tournament quarterfinals. Losing its top scorer (Andrea Carpenter; 35 points) and starting keeper (Elliott London; 19-2 with a 0.54 GAA) to graduation, the Wildcats dropped its season opener at Dallas Baptist, 2-0.

In the national preseason Top 25 poll, ACU was 7th and DBU came in 15th. This week, ACU fell out of the national rankings. This will be Abilene's last crack at a D2 national title as they have recently accepted an invite to join the Division I Southland Conference.

UNK will be focuses on stopping senior forward Krysta Grimm (26 points in 2011), a Colorado Springs native. The ACU defense is anchored by another Colorado native in senior Lexi Sterling with the keeper being senior Arielle Moncure (nine saves).

During its win streak, the Lopers have scored three goals off corner kicks. Through three games, UNK has taken nine more corners, 19-10, than its opponent while recording 21 more shots, 47-26.

Individually, six different players -- three sophomores and three freshman -- have already scored with two other Lopers providing an assist. In goal, senior Marissa Niday (Fremont) has stopped eight shots and has a 1.86 GAA.

UNK returns home next Tuesday at noon to face NAIA member NW Oklahoma State.