Kearney, Neb. – The push for the MIAA Tournament starts this weekend for the Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team.

The Lopers (5-8-1, 2-4-1), currently ninth in the league, are at NW Missouri State (4-7-1, 2-4-0) and Missouri Western State (2-10-1, 0-6-0) this weekend before closing out the regular season with home dates against Lindenwood (Oct. 27th) and Fort Hays State (Nov. 1st).

The LWU Lions are currently in first place (7-4-1, 4-0-1) while the Tigers (5-7-2, 1-4-2) are defending MIAA tourney champs.

The eight-team MIAA Tournament begins on Tuesday, November 5th, with four games on campus sites. The winners advance to Olathe, Kans., for the semifinals and finals that ensuing weekend.

Last year at Cope Stadium, UNK tied Northwest, 1-1, and also went two OT's against the Griffons before winning, 2-1.

The Bearcats have dropped three of four but the one victory was a decisive 4-1 home decision over Emporia State. They host UNK Friday at 3:00 p.m. with live stats available.

Millard West grad Anna Calgaard has tallied 12 points (five goals and two assists) with sophomore Anna Holden (three goals) one of four other 'Cats with two or more goals. Defensively, senior keeper Kelsey Adams has a 1.45 GAA and averages six saves per game.

On Sunday at 1:00 p.m., the Lopers take on the Griffons in St. Joseph. Live stats can be found here.

Western, which hosts Ft. Hays State Friday night, has lost five in a row by a combined score of 10-0. Their last goal came in a 1-1 tie vs. Northwest on September 24th.

Junior forward Tara Russell has tallied four of Western's six goals and taken 27 nearly 20% of the team's total shots. Senior midfielder Ashley Juravich, on 16 shots, has scored the other two goals.  

Two keepers have played, the busiest being true freshman Sarah Lyle, who has a 1.96 GAA and 71 saves.

UNK, looking to end a three-game losing streak, is 2-3-2 away from home this year. The Lopers earned road wins at NW Oklahoma State and Emporia State.

Sophomores Montanna Hosterman (29) and Breezy Jahnke (19), and senior Becka Talcott (22), lead in shots with six others having a double digit shot total.

The Lopers have out shot the competition, 172-59, but have been slightly out scored, 19-15.

Allowing two goals in each of the last three games, the UNK defense has held seven teams to one or fewer goals. Three keepers – sophomore Katelin Mielke and true freshman Jackie Paloucek and Kristen Rossi -- have combined for a 1.33 GAA and 51 saves.