Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team hosts Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State this weekend before visiting Hastings College next Wednesday night.

The UCO Bronchos stop by Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field Friday at 1:00 p.m. with the NSU RiverHawks playing at the same time on Sunday. The tilt at Hastings starts at 7:00 p.m. Check the UNK soccer schedule page for media links.

UCO (7-2-1) is currently third in the MIAA standings with a 4-1-1 mark. They are coming off a 0-0 tie with Emporia State.

That marked the Bronchos fourth straight shutout with keepers Brandi Bartley (3-1-0/0.71 GAA) and Elle Stover (4-1-1/0.83 GAA) both having solid numbers.   

Outscoring the opposition 20-8, UCO's balanced offense features two players with four goals apiece in senior Emily Hahn and junior Gabi Bochus. Finally, UCO has 16 assists on those 20 goals, four coming from junior Emily Precure.

Last fall, UCO also came to Kearney and left with a 2-0 win. They scored both goals before the half with the Lopers taking three more shots on the day, 11-8.

NSU improved to 6-4 (3-3) after a 1-0 home win over Washburn last weekend. They are 1-2 on the road in 2014, picking up at victory at Missouri Western State.

A defensive minded bunch of RiverHawks has allowed only nine goals all season. Sophomore Jordan Woodruff has made 49 saves (4.9 per game) to maintain a 0.89 GAA.

Offensively, freshman Melissa Giles has scored nearly a third of NSU's 11 goals. Three others have tallied two a piece with sophomore Anastasia Robinson leading in shots (29).

Despite being outshot, NSU left Cope Stadium with a 2-0 win last season as Woodruff made nine saves and the RiverHawks scored in the sixth minute.

The Lopers (1-7-1, 1-5-0) are looking to end a four-game losing streak. UNK's lone win came at home, a 1-0 decision over Washburn on September 21st.

Junior Montanna Hosterman (Papillion) is tied for fifth in the MIAA in shots (29) and has tallied two of Kearney's six goals. She and freshman Carly Brown (Omaha) are also tied for the team lead in shots on goal with 11.

For the season, UNK has been out shot by just two, 102-100. The team is 1-2-1 when it out shoots the opposition. By way of comparison, the Lopers went 8-3-2 in 2013 when it took more shots than its opponent.

Looking a few days ahead, Hastings is ranked 24th in the NAIA this week with an 8-2-1 mark. They host Dordt College (Ia.) on Saturday