Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team returns to the pitch after a week plus layoff with games vs. Fort Hays State and Washburn this weekend.  

UNK (0-2-1) travels to Hays (2-2-0) Friday night and then hosts the Ichabods (0-4-0) Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Fans can follow the 6:00 p.m. Tiger game with live stats. Live video and live stats are available for all Loper home games.

Last year in the regular season finale at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field, Becka Talcott tallied a goal in the 81st minute to lift Kearney over Hays. That win helped UNK reach the postseason for the first-time in program history. To close out the 2012 season, the Tigers managed a 5-1 victory over the Lopers in Kansas.

Hays started the 2014 campaign with a 4-1 upset win over then-No. 21 SW Minnesota State. Also owning a 4-0 road win over Sioux Falls, the Tigers lost road games to RMAC-members Colorado State-Pueblo and Colo.-Colo. Springs last weekend.  

Four different players have scored with three – freshman forward Kelsey Steffens, junior forward Jordan Hester and senior forward Jordan Shaw – having three apiece. Redshirt freshman keeper Kristen Thompson has played every minute, making 17 saves and posting a 1.23 GAA.

Washburn beat UNK in a shootout to advance in last year's MIAA Tournament. Finishing 9-9-2, the Ichabods have suffered losses to Minnesota State-Moorhead, Northern State, Rockhurst and Newman so far this year. They are at Emporia State on Friday night.

Senior keeper Tori Fuglister has been busy, stopping 20 shots to post a 1.75 GAA. The Ichabods have scored two goals to date, including one by freshman Emily Stauffer (Lincoln East).

In three games, UNK has been out shot by just a 37-36 margin. Junior Montanna Hosterman (Papillion), a 2013 All-MIAA pick, has taken a third of those shots with five others having between three and five.

A stalwart of the lineup the past four years, senior co-captain Lauren Hoeft (Holdrege) has played all 290 minutes, as has junior keeper Regan Zach (Omaha). Finally, junior Ellisa Janzen (Lincoln North Star) rejoined the Lopers this week. She was with the team back in 2012.

UNK starts a four-game road swing next Thursday night at Missouri Southern State.