Week 9 Preview: Senior Day Sunday; Wins Equal MIAA Tourney

Kearney, Neb. – The Nebraska-Kearney women's soccer team hopes to qualify for the eight-team 2018 MIAA Tournament by recording two home wins this weekend.

The Lopers (5-10-1, 3-5-1) are currently tied with Lindenwood for eighth place in the MIAA standings (10 points). However, LWU owns the tiebreaker thanks to a 2-1 win over UNK in St. Charles back on October 12.

Each MIAA win is worth three points and a tie one. Kearney faces Fort Hays State (8-6-2, 6-3-0) Friday and Emporia State (11-4-1, 6-3-0) on Sunday. Check the Loper schedule page for kick times and media links.

Meanwhile, the Lindenwood Lions are at Central Missouri (12-3-1, 6-2-1) Friday and host Northwest Missouri State (2-13-0, 1-8-0) in its regular season finale.

Two wins would almost certainly punch UNK's ticket while a win and tie would likely put the Lopers in the postseason. The eight-team field will be announced Sunday evening with first round games set for Halloween. The top four seeds will host seeds five through eight.

Right ahead of UNK and Lindenwood in a sixth-place tie is Washburn and Missouri Southern State (11 points). Tenth place Northeastern State has eight points. Kearney previously reached this tourney in 2015 and 2013.

Back in September, UNK lost 1-0 in overtime at Hays. The game was played in very windy conditions with the Tigers scoring in the 92nd minute to record the win. The Lopers were out shot 14-5 but had a 4-2 advantage in the first half when the wind was at its' back.

Two days later at Emporia, the Hornets scored in the 66th minute to win 1-0. ESU out shot UNK 26-9 but two Loper keepers combined for eight saves.

The Blue & Gold are 2-5-0 at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field this year with Hays (3-5-1) and ESU (1-3-1) having fairly solid road records.

On Sunday, UNK will honor a nine-person senior class. They are Ciera Clark (Omaha North), Ali Hirschman (Millard South), Micheala Hoffman (Fruita, Colo.), Kelsie Ienn (Papillion-LaVista), Emily Kosch (Columbus Scotus), Kaitlyn Pawloski (Hastings), Allie Prososki (Kearney Catholic), Caitlin Rerucha (Omaha Skutt) and Tori Weber (Lincoln Southeast).

About the Fort Hays State Tigers
2018 record: 8-6-2 (6-3-0) … won three straight road games

Notable results: Beat SW Baptist, 2-1; Beat Missouri Southern, 2-0; Beat Lindenwood, 3-0

Leaders to date: #10 Cailey Perkins (Fr., 5-5, F, 18 points on six goals & six assists; 29 shots), #13 Darby Hirsch (Jr., 5-8, F, 11 points on four goals & three assists; 29 shots), #1 Megan Kneefel (Jr., 5-6, 1.19 GAA, 64 saves, 1,290 minutes)

About the Emporia State Hornets
2018 record: 11-4-1 (6-3-0) … won two straight games

Notable results: Beat Central Missouri, 3-1; Beat Lindenwood, 1-0

Leaders to date: #15 Rachel Marshall (Fr., MF, 13 points on six goals & an assist; 33 shots), #11 Maria Walden (Sr., MF, 10 points on four goals & two assists; 32 shots), #1 Jillian Patton (Fr., GK, 1.10 GAA, 56 saves, 1,307 minutes)

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Players Mentioned

#20 Emily Kosch: F; 5' 5"; Freshman; Columbus Blizzards

#8 Ciera Clark: F; 5' 6"; Senior; Gretna Galaxy

#00 Ali Hirschman: GK; 5' 6"; Senior; Omaha FC

#17 Micheala Hoffman: MF; 5' 8"; Senior; Grand Junction Fire

#3 Kelsie Ienn: D; 5' 10"; Senior; Omaha FC

#0 Allie Prososki: GK; 5' 8"; Junior; Nebraska Select

#12 Caitlin Rerucha: MF; 5' 6"; Senior; Omaha FC

#11 Tori Weber: MF; 5' 5"; Senior; Omaha FC

#14 Kaitlyn Pawloski: MF; 5' 4"; Senior; Nebraska Select

Players Mentioned

#20 Emily Kosch
: 5' 5"; Freshman; Columbus Blizzards
: F

#8 Ciera Clark
: 5' 6"; Senior; Gretna Galaxy
: F

#00 Ali Hirschman
: 5' 6"; Senior; Omaha FC
: GK

#17 Micheala Hoffman
: 5' 8"; Senior; Grand Junction Fire
: MF

#3 Kelsie Ienn
: 5' 10"; Senior; Omaha FC
: D

#0 Allie Prososki
: 5' 8"; Junior; Nebraska Select
: GK

#12 Caitlin Rerucha
: 5' 6"; Senior; Omaha FC
: MF

#11 Tori Weber
: 5' 5"; Senior; Omaha FC
: MF

#14 Kaitlyn Pawloski
: 5' 4"; Senior; Nebraska Select
: MF