Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team returns to the road this weekend with games at Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.

UNK (3-4-3, 2-1-1) is at UCO Friday at 4:00 p.m. and then faces NSU Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for live stat links.

The Lopers are currently in sixth place in the league with seven points, just a point behind four teams in second. The RiverHawks (8-2-0, 3-1-0) are one of those clubs with the Bronchos (6-3-1, 3-0-1) in first with 10 points.

UCO is on a three-game winning streak thanks to an offense that has produced seven goals. Four of those came in last Sunday's OT victory at Emporia. In non-conference play, the 'Chos fell by scores of 5-0 (Minnesota State-Mankato) and 3-0 (SW Oklahoma State).

True freshman Kentia Kokis (# 12) is the player to watch as she already has 15 points on seven goals and an assist. Kokis has 26 shots, 16 on goal, with the UCO leader being another first year player, Katie Killion (# 9). To date, she has nine points on four goals.

In goal, four different Bronchos have seen action, the most being sophomore Elle Stover (4-3-1, 1.56 GAA, 28 saves).

Last year in Kearney, UCO won 1-0 over the Lopers as they scored in the 71st minute. The 'Chos ended with 10-3 shot advantage and were plus four in corner, 8-4.

NSU is coming off a 1-0 road win at Washburn. They started 2015 with a bang, winning their first four games by a combined score of 19-0. Since then, they are 4-2 and have scored 10 goals.

Both Anastasia Robinson (# 7) and Jennifer Cudjoe (# 13) have taken 31 shots with each scoring six times. Robinson leads in points (17) with Cudjoe right behind (13).
A balanced attack sees six others between four and nine points.

Defensively, veteran keeper Jordan Woodruff has started all 10 games and has a 0.44 GAA with four solo shut outs.

UNK poked two goals past Woodruff and NSU last fall to win 2-1 at Cope Stadium. Current junior Kadie Walaszczyk (Houston, Texas) scored in the 17th minute with Kearney finishing with a shot advantage, 11-10. 

Through eight games, Kearney is averaging 8.8 shots per game, led by senior Montanna Hosterman (20) and junior Evie Sintek (14). Five others are between five and seven shots.

Hosterman (Papillion) needs just one goal to record her 18th, which would set a new Loper standard. Becka Talcott and Hosterman currently share the career school record.

Hosterman, Sintek and freshman Micheala Hoffman (Fruita, Colo.) are the only Lopers to start all 10 games this fall with Hoffman having a team-high 933 minutes. Sophomore Marika Van Brocklin (850)  and freshman Kelsie Ienn 829) rank second and third, respectively, in this category.

Next week, UNK heads to Missouri to face Mo Western and NW Missouri.