Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team plays its final two home games of 2015 this weekend at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field.
A non-conference game against Emporia State is set for Friday at 7:00 p.m. with Washburn visiting Sunday at 1:00 p.m. in a key conference tilt. UNK is encouraging fans to
wear pink all weekend with Sunday also being "Senior Day." Check the
schedule page for media links.
In a bid of an odd twist, this is the first meeting with the Hornets (8-5-1, 4-3-1) this fall. Next Friday's game in Emporia will count in the MIAA standings.
E-State, with a 3-2-1 road record, is coming off a 2-0 win over Southwest Baptist, a game that was postponed due to weather. Last weekend, Emporia tied Missouri Southern State in Joplin, 2-2.
The Hornets have been a strong second half team, scoring 16 goals after the break. They tallied two second half goals in that upset win over SBU.
Sophomore Amelie Heun, from Germany, has an impressive 12 goals on 38 shots. Tied for the MIAA lead in goals, she has 28 points in total and is one of six Hornets with 17 or more shots.
Defensively, Emporia has shut out six foes with junior keeper Yadira River posting a 1.35 GAA with 61 saves. Last year, Rivera blanked Kearney twice; 0-0 in Kansas and in a 1-0 win in Cope Stadium.
Washburn ended a long losing streak when it beat the Lopers, 3-1, back on September 20th. They've gone on to win three more times, including last Sunday in Joplin, 1-0.
The Ichabods (4-7-3, 3-4-1), who are at Fort Hays State Friday in a non-league contest, are led by freshman Paige Swanson (seven points; three goals) and sophomore Presley Wiggins (five points; two goals). Swanson scored the final goal in the win over UNK with the 'Bods finishing the contest with twice as many shots, 14-7.
On defense, sophomore Kaitlin Minnich has played every second in goal, stopping 59 shots to have a 1.14 GAA.
UNK (4-7-3, 3-4-1) and Washburn are currently tied for seventh in the MIAA with 10 points. Both teams are just five points behind third place SBU.
The Lopers have tallied one goal in five straight contests to rank eighth in the conference in goals scored (15) and seventh in assists (13). UNK's multi-goal games this season came at Wayne State, 4-1, and in an overtime win against MSSU, 2-1.
Seniors
Holly Brown (Glenwood Springs, Colo.),
Montanna Hosterman (Papillion-LaVista South H.S.),
Meaghan Pasbrig (Chandler, Ariz.),
Katelin Mielke (Millard West K.S.),
Kristyn Otter (Millard North H.S.),
Ashtin Pawloski (Hastings),
Nicole Potthoff (Kearney) and
Samantha Rieber (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) hope to have two multi-goal games in their final appearances at home.
Note Otter and Pawloski both could come back in 2016 due to medical redshirts. Those are granted later this academic year.
UNK closes out the regular season next weekend at Emporia and Hays. The MIAA Tournament's first round games, held on campus sits, are set for Wednesday, November 4th.
