Kearney, Neb. – For one of the few times since joining NCAA Division II in 1990, a Nebraska-Kearney team will get a chance to host the nation's top ranked squad.
On Friday, October 2nd, the Lopers (3-3-2, 2-0-0) square off against the Central Missouri Mules (8-0-0, 2-0-0) at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. Check the
Loper schedule page for media links.
An MIAA juggernaut and a perennial NCAA Tournament program, UCM ascended to the No. 1 ranking two weeks ago, the first time in program history the Jennies have reached the nation's top spot.
Coming off a 21-1-2 season in which it lost to eventual national champion Grand Valley State in the Elite Eight, UCM has outscored its competition 34-2 this fall and is 35-1-3 over its last 39 MIAA regular season games.
One of those ties came in Kearney during the 2012 season. Both teams had potential game winning goals wiped off due to off side calls with current senior
Montanna Hosterman (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.) scoring UNK's goal on a free kick from 40 yard out.
More recently, UNK fell in Warrensburg last season by a 3-0 score. This UCM squad features senior Julie Ireland (16 points; eight goals), sophomore Megan Woolley (12 points; six goals) and junior Hannah Pyle (eight points; four assists) with sophomore keeper Ana Dilkes having 30 saves, six shut outs (four solo) and a 0.13 GAA.
On Sunday, the Lindenwood Lions (1-5-2, 0-2-0) come to town at 1:00 p.m. They are at Fort Hays State on Friday. In 2014, Kearney lost in St. Charles, 4-1.
Having been outscored 24-7 to date, LWU is led by junior Alexis Robbers (three goals) and senior Danielle Torry (two goals), who've each taken 13 shots. A two keeper system features freshman Zoe Wetzel (1-1-1, 2.79 GAA) and senior Jordan Gnolfo (0-4-1, 4.66 GAA).
UNK is trying to win a third straight MIAA contest for the third time in the short tenure of the program; the feat was done at the end of both the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
The Loper defense has allowed just one goal over the last 181 minutes to rank sixth in the MIAA in goals allowed with 12. Offensively, UNK averages nine shots per game with six different players having already scored a goal. Hosterman (three) leads with junior
Evie Sintek (Norfolk) and sophomore
Reina Horikawa (Japan) at two apiece.
Finally, with one more goal, Hosterman becomes UNK's all-time leader. Her current total of 17 is the same amount Becka Talcott scored between 2010-13.
A four-game road swing begins next Friday at Central Oklahoma.
