Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team plays six of its final eight regular season games at home, beginning this weekend with Missouri Western State and Northwest Missouri State.

The tilt vs. the Griffons (7-3-0, 2-1-0) kicks off Friday at 7:00 p.m. with the contest against the Bearcats (4-4-1, 2-1-0) set for Sunday at 1:00 p.m.  Check the schedule page for links. 

UNK (3-6-1, 0-3-0) is 2-3-0 at home year, including a 2-2-0 mark at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. Mo West has yet to lose away from St. Joseph this fall, winning at Southwest Baptist (1-0), Missouri Southern State (2-1), Lindenwood (1-0 in OT) and Ouachita Baptist, Ark. (1-0).

The Griffs have been a second half team with 12 of its 14 goals coming over the final 45 minutes or in overtime. MWSU has out shot its opponents, 138-86, and also taken more corners, 57-44.

Sophomore Cassidy Menke has a team-high four goals with Omaha senior Bailey Dervin and junior Sydney Cluck having three apiece. Also, sophomore Maddy Cowell leads in shots (25) and assists (three).

Defensively, MWSU uses two keepers in sophomores Lexie Martin (1.13 GAA, 4-1-0) and Paige LaBadie (1.20 GAA, 2-2-0). Last season in St. Joe, the Griffs scored three times between the 61st and 83rd minutes to beat the Lopers, 3-1.

The 'Cats, who play at Fort Hays State Friday night, won road games at MSSU (1-0) and SBU (3-0) last weekend. That ended a four-game skid.

Having a 2-3-0 road mark, Northwest is led by freshman Izzy Romano and junior Danielle Wolfe. Both have taken 20 shots with Romano scoring three times and also having four assists. Wolfe has two goals and two assists.

Having out shot its opponents, 109-194, but having allowed more corners, 54-39, NW starts Omaha junior Ashley Malloy (1.44 GAA) in goal.

UNK fell to the 'Cats, 2-1 in overtime, last fall in Maryville. Northwest scored in the 87th minute to force the extra session and then won it with a goal at 91:40.

The Lopers are coming off a 2-1 OT loss at Lindenwood. They own a 1-0 win over Augustana, currently in second place in the NSIC (Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conf.).

Eight freshman have suited up for Kearney this fall, including defender Molly Willis (Kearney H.S.). She has yet to come off the field in any game, logging all 929:45 the Lopers have played in 2016.

Last weekend, keeper Emily Thuss (Raymore, Mo.) and midfielder/defender McKenzie Nabity (Millard South H.S.) made their collegiate debuts with fellow first year players Audrey Barrera (Fullerton, Calif.) and Skylar Taylor (Lincoln Southeast H.S.) recently earning their first starts.

Among the veterans, fifth-year senior Kadie Walaszczyk (Houston) should return soon from the disabled list while senior Evie Sintek (Norfolk) and junior Marika Van Brocklin (Hastings) join Willis as the only Lopers to have started all 10 games.

UNK's last road swing is a long one next weekend as the Blue & Gold are at MSSU and SBU. Those games are on a Thursday and Saturday.