Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney soccer team continues its home stand this weekend when Missouri Western State and Northwest Missouri State come to Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.

With six regular season games remaining, the Lopers (2-9-2, 2-6-0) are in the thick of the eight-team MIAA Tournament race. Four of these six contests will be at home with the combined records of these six teams being 24-27-9.

Western (7-4-1, 4-3-1) stops by Friday at 7:30 p.m. while the Bearcats (6-5-1, 3-4-1), after a game at Fort Hays State, come to town Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Check the UNK schedule for media links.

The Griffons came into the week with an MIAA-low 0.48 GAA. Having seven shut outs, their defense is led by sophomore keeper Sarah Lyle, who has made 61 saves in playing all of her team's 1,133 minutes.

Winners of four straight, MWSU has tallied 13 goals on the other side of the field. Senior Tara Russell has three along with a team-best 40 shots with senior K.C. Ramsell at two goals and an assist.

Last fall, the Griffons went 2-13-3 (0-10-1) and fell 2-0 at home to the Lopers. Current senior Lauren Hoeft (Holdrege) scored in the 42nd minute off a free kick as UNK out shot Western by six, 14-8.

The Bearcats have allowed just 12 goals all season while scoring 15. Sophomore Ashley Cole is the player to watch as she has scored four times and taken a team-best 23 shots.

In goal, keeper Ashley Malloy has posted four shutouts to have a solid 0.98 GAA. She also has made 71 saves to rank third in the MIAA.

In 2013, the Lopers and 'Cats fought to a 1-1 tie. Both teams scored in the opening half with UNK having a big advantage in shots, 19-8.

A banged up Kearney squad fell to Hastings College, ranked 20th in the NAIA, Wednesday night, 5-1. Junior Montana Hostermann (Papillion) scored the game's first goal, a header off a corner from junior Meaghan Pasbrig (Chandler, Ariz.).

Hosterman entered the week ranked eighth in the MIAA in shots per game (2.91), a number that'll only rise after taking six in Hastings.

With the injuries, some late additions are seeing more time. Junior Ellisa Janzen (Lincoln North Star) played 58 minutes and started the Hastings contest; she joined the squad in late September.

After taking part in fall camp and making the Loper squad, sophomore Evie Sintek (Norfolk) and freshman Meagan Hunke (Holdrege) have both played in five games.

Finally, true freshmen Carly Brown (Omaha Skutt) and Marika Van Brocklin (Hastings) have been mainstays all season, appearing in all 12 games with Brown second in shots (14) and Van Brocklin tied for third in points (three).

Next weekend, UNK heads to Emporia State and Washburn