Kearney, Neb. – A busy week continues for the Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team as they play at Emporia State Friday night and are at Washburn on Sunday afternoon.

The Lopers (4-5, 1-2) are coming off a 2-0 setback to unbeaten Rockhurst (Mo.) Tuesday evening in Omaha.

The game at ESU (5-3-1, 2-0-1) will be played at Emporia High School due to upgrades happening on the Hornets on-campus field. There will be no live stats, or a live video web stream, but follow Twitter for updates.

Last fall in Kearney, UNK rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to beat Emporia, 3-2, in overtime. Sophomore McKinzie Rieber (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) assisted on the last two goals with senior Becka Talcott (Denver, Colo.) recording the game winner in the 95th minute.

Coming off a 4-11-2 (0-9-1) season, the Hornets are much improved, having already beaten RMAC power Regis, tying nationally-ranked Central Missouri, and defeating Washburn, Newman (Kans.) and SW Baptist in succession.

A defensive minded unit, Emporia has scored only nine goals all season but allowed just six. Senior forward Tommi Bouknight leads in shots (16), points (seven) and goals (three) with true freshman forward McKenzie Koch having two goals on nine shots.

True freshman keeper Yadira Rivera has an impressive 55 saves, a 0.47 GAA and five shut outs.

Washburn (4-5, 1-2) is also much improved. They'll entertain the Lopers Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Live stats will be available.

In 2012, the Ichabods posted a 7-1 win over UNK in Kearney. Scoring five goals in the first half, the 'Bods didn't have many other highlights in going 4-14 (4-8).

Beating Newman, Wayne State and RMAC member Colorado Christian by a combined score of 12-0, Washburn has eight different plays with four or more points.

That includes Millard South grad Danielle Curtis (three goals on 17 shots) and true freshman defender Kate Combs (two goals and two assists). In goal, junior Tori Fuglister has a 1.09 GAA with 35 saves and three shut outs.

UNK, getting a bit healthier, is led on offense by Talcott (three goals on 13 shots) and sophomore Montanna Hosterman (two goals on a team-best 17 shots). Sophomore Kristyn Otter (10) is the other Loper with a double digit shot total while seven others have scored once.

As of September 30th, UNK ranked seventh in the conference in points (35).

Next, senior Sarah Talcott (768 minutes) and junior Lauren Hoeft (team-high 816 minutes) are part of a sturdy defense that has held the opposition to one or fewer goals five times.

UNK returns home next weekend to face Northeastern State (Friday) and Central Oklahoma (Sunday), two of the MIAA preseason favorites.