Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer teams needs some wins or ties this weekend on the road to reach the 2015 MIAA Tournament.

The eight-team event begins Wednesday, November 4th, at campus sites. The top four teams, likely Central Missouri, Northeastern State, Central Oklahoma, Southwest Baptist or Fort Hays State, will host seeds five through eight.

Currently, UNK (4-8-4, 3-4-2) is tied with Lindenwood and Washburn for eighth place, each with 11 points. A conference win equals three points and a tie is worth one.

On Friday at 6:00 p.m., the Lopers face rival FHSU (8-7-1, 5-4) with the regular season finale coming Sunday afternoon at Emporia (9-6-1, 4-4-1). Washburn also faces these two with LWU hosting UCM and playing at 11th-place NW Missouri State. Check the Loper schedule page for live stat links.

With a couple of wins, Hays has a chance to pass SBU for fourth place in the final standings. The Tigers are 5-2-1 at home this fall and are coming off a 1-0 victory over Emporia.

Ten different Tigers have recorded at least 10 shots with eight having scored at least four points. Freshman Cassi Moosburger leads in goals (four) and points (12) with sophomore Kelsey Steffens and senior Gabrielle Makatura each taking 22 shots.

Defensively, keepers Abbie Flax and Kristen Thompson have each recorded three shut outs. They combine for a 0.86 GAA and 75 saves.

In a non-con game back on September 18th, Steffens scored off a Makatura corner in the 55th minute to give FHSU a 1-0 lead over UNK. The Tigers added two more goals with the contest featuring four yellow cards and 28 fouls. Thompson recorded two saves to get the shut out win.

Emporia also blanked the Lopers by a 3-0 score last Friday night at Cope Stadium. A non-con game, the Hornets scored the 12th, 26th and 70th minutes with freshman Jackie Martinek finishing with three points and a team-high three shots.

On the season, Martinek ranks fourth on the team in points (nine). German Amelie Heun is among the MIAA offensive leaders, having 28 points on 12 goals and four assists, with Grace Linton (11) and McKenzie Koch (10) also double digit scorers.

Keeper Yadira Rivera had two saves at UNK to record her fifth solo shut out of the season. She has a 1.22 GAA and made 64 saves over 14 games.

Averaging about nine shots per game, the Lopers rank fifth in the conference in points (46) as they have 16 goals on 14 assists. Kearney has had equal production in each half, having eight goals in the first 45 minutes, seven in the second 45 minutes and one in overtime.

Opponents, on the other hand, have tallied 22 of its 32 goals after intermission. The Lopers average four shots in the second half with the opposition getting off seven.

Individually, seniors Montanna Hosterman (33) and Meaghan Pasbrig (11), junior Evie Sintek (19) and sophomore Reina Horikawa (14) have double digit shot totals with Hosterman at a team-best 11 points.

Freshman keeper Ali Hirschman has played 1,341 minutes, made 75 saves and posted a 1.74 GAA. She ranks second in the league in saves and has two shut outs to her credit (UCO and SBU).

The 2015 MIAA Tournament bracket will be released Sunday afternoon after the completion off all games. That should be at roughly 4:30 p.m. after UNK and ESU finish up. Check www.themiaa.com for information.