Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's soccer team closes outs its 2017 home slate this weekend when it hosts Missouri Southern State on Friday afternoon and Southwest Baptist on Sunday.

This also is a "Pink Out" Weekend and Loper fans are encouraged to wear pink to Friday's game. Prior to Sunday's kickoff, UNK will honor three seniors.

The MSSU Lions (1-8-2, 1-4-0) will come to Cope Stadium at 2 p.m. Friday with the SBU Bearcats (2-9-1, 0-5-0) visiting Sunday at 1 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

Mo Southern suffered a 3-2 OT home loss to Emporia State last Sunday. The Lions led 2-0 in the 53rd minute before the Hornets rallied. MSSU's lone win came on Oct. 1st on the road, a 1-0 decision over Northwest Missouri State.

Having tied two GAC (Great American Conference) schools and having suffered three 1-0 setbacks, MSSU has tallied eight goals to date. They are led by senior Taylor Beck (4 points; 18 shots) and sophomore Tayler LePage (3 points, 15 shots).

Outshot 156-108 (14-9 avg.), the Lions have used three keepers. The most experienced is true freshman Hannah Stevenson (1.54 GAA and 38 saves). Last year in Joplin, the teams battled to a scoreless tie. A year earlier, the Lopers won 2-1 in overtime.

Since a 2-0 non-conference win over MSSU in Joplin, SBU has lost seven in a row. Dating back to last season, the 'Cats have dropped 16 consecutive MIAA games. One of those losses came by a 3-0 score to UNK last October.

True freshman Regan Edwards has four of her team's 11 goals and also taken a team-best 22 shots. Three others have scored twice, including true freshman Mikayla Putt. In goal, redshirt freshman Ashlyn Gibbs has logged the most minutes and has a 2.87 GAA.

The Lopers come in looking for its third home win of the fall. Currently, UNK is 2-3-2 at Cope Stadium; they haven't finished over .500 at Cope since 2013 (5-4-0). Two wins would also be the 49th and 50th in program history. UNK began women's soccer in the fall of 2009.

Still in the race for an MIAA Tournament spot, UNK has been outshot by just a 127-123 margin (12-11 avg.). The Lopers have an advantage in shots in the second half/overtime at 72-65.

Six players have a double digit shot total, led by Lincoln junior Tori Weber and Colorado junior Michaela Hoffman with 16 apiece. Weber and Kearney sophomore Molly Willis have both scored twice with Papillion junior Kelsie Ienn having a team-best three assists.

In goal, all four keepers have now played and they've combined for a 61 saves (5.5 avg.) and a 1.56 GAA.

Prior to Sunday's game, seniors Carly Brown (Omaha Skutt), Alexis Fernandez (Goodyear, Ariz.) and Marika Van Brocklin (Hastings) will be honored. 

UNK finishes the year with four straight road games, heading to Oklahoma next weekend.