Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team hosts MIAA foe Missouri Southern State Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field, the first conference home game this fall.

First kick is at 1:00 p.m. with live stats and live video available.

UNK (3-4, 0-2) is coming off a 1-0 win over Hastings College Wednesday night while the Lions (2-3-1, 1-0-1) are at Fort Hays State Friday night.

In 2012, MISSU went 5-10-3 but was a respectable 5-5-3 in MIAA play. That included a 3-0 win over UNK in Joplin.

Due to graduation, the Lions are now minus All-MIAA performer Megan Stueve, who tallied 27 points on 13 goals and an assist last season. Three of those goals came against the Lopers (25th, 72nd and 83rd minutes).

As a team, Southern tallied 23 goals in 2012.

MSSU is coming off a successful home weekend, tying Central Oklahoma, 0-0, and beating Northeastern State, 2-0. In the MIAA preseason poll, the UCO was picked second and NSU third.

Also owning a win over GAC-member East Central U. (Okla.), Southern has seen junior Katelyn Roberson and senior Dana Wilhelm each score twice. Senior Tiffany Laughlin, who began her career at D1 Missouri State, leads in shots with 11.

Defensively, a two keeper system includes Mississippi State transfer and senior Abby Risner (270 minutes, 1.33 GAA, 17 saves) and junior Beth Hammons (290 minutes, 0.93 GAA, 22 saves).

On the Loper side of the field, sophomore Montanna Hosterman (14) and senior Becka Talcott (11) are leading in shots despite not being 100% this fall.

Hosterman missed two games due to injury and while Talcott has appeared in all seven contests, she has logged just 396 minutes (56.6 avg.). This pair is currently responsible for four of UNK's eight goals and two of the team's eight assists.

Talcott will become UNK's all-time leader in goals and points with her next score. She currently sits at 14 goals and 35 points; two-year Loper Raliegh Mercer also had 14 goals and finished with 36 points.

Next, senior Sarah Talcott (605 minutes) and junior Lauren Hoeft (team-high 636 minutes) are part of a defense that has shut out three opponents so far.

Keeper Katelin Mielke currently sports a 1.29 GAA and has made 17 saves with true freshman Jackie Paloucek at a 1.97 GAA with seven stops.

UNK will have just about 48 hours to prepare for Rockhurst (3-0-2) Tuesday at Tranquility Park in Omaha. The Hawks, from Kansas City, are receiving votes in the Top 25 and play two GLVC (Great Lakes Valley Conference) games this weekend.

The Lopers then hit the road again, stopping by Emporia State and Washburn next weekend.