Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska Kearney women's soccer team finishes up the 2017 regular season with a four-game road swing, beginning this weekend in Oklahoma.

UNK faces Central Oklahoma on Friday at 4 p.m. and then battles regionally-ranked Northeastern State on Sunday at 1 p.m. Check the Loper schedule page for media links.

The Bronchos (6-6-2, 3-2-2) have 11 conference points to be in sixth place in the MIAA standings. The Lopers (3-8-3, 0-6-1) have one point to be tied for 11th but are just six points (two wins) from seventh.

The ' Chos have been involved in a lot of high scoring games this fall, having out scored its competition 38-26 (3-2 avg. score). They have the third most goals scored in the MIAA and given up the fourth most.

Having fired off 200 shots (14 per game), UCO is led by sophomore Asha Haile (15 points; seven goals), true freshman Kelsie Eason (16 points; seven goals) and senior Mikayla Lowery (14 points; five points & four assists). Defensively, two keepers have logged at least 550 minutes with junior Ally Sallas sporting a 5-2-0 mark and a 1.45 GAA.

Last year, UNK handed UCO a 1-0 setback in overtime. Two years ago, the Lopers went 1-1 in Edmond, winning the regular season game and losing in the MIAA Tournament. 

The first Central Region rankings were released on Wednesday and NSU (11-2-0, 5-2-0) find themselves seventh. They are 6-1 at home, 5-1 on the road and host Fort Hays State (8-3-3, 5-1-1), who is ranked eighth in the Central, on Friday.

The RiverHawks have recorded 33 goals while allowing just 12. They also have a bid advantage in corners, 79-51, and have taken 187 shots (14 per game).

A balanced offensive attack features true freshman Paulina Chavez (18 points; eight goals), sophomore Mariah Nicolet (14 points; five goals) and senior Melissa Giles (32 shots; four goals). In goal, junior Meg Smith has played most of the minutes and is 9-2-0 with a 0.86 GAA.

UNK and NSU battled to a one all draw last fall in Kearney. In 2015, the 'Hawks rolled to a 7-1 win in Tahlequah.

The Lopers come into the weekend rank second in goals allowed (20). Over the last 32 games, UNK has given up just 39 goals. A rarity in the MIAA, UNK has used four keepers and they've combined for a 1.39 GAA and 66 saves. The defense has also allowed just 56 corners (four per game).

With the year winding down, 10 different Lopers have managed to be healthy and talented enough to appear in all 14 games. Senior Marika Van Brocklin (1,327), sophomore Molly Willis (1,274) and junior Tori Weber (1,273) lead in minutes among position players with junior keeper Ali Hirschman at 1,125 minutes. Among fresh faces, Lincoln freshman Megan Hellem (924) leads in minues.

Next weekend, the Blue & Gold heads to Hays and Emporia State.