Washburn: Thursday's match between the Jennies and Lady Blues will mark the 19th meeting all-time. The Jennies hold a 12-5-1 advantage. Last season the Jennies beat the Lady Blues 1-0 in Topeka and 5-0 at home.
Emporia State: Saturday's match featuring the Jennies and Hornets will be the 22nd meeting all-time. The Jennies hold a 17-3-1 lead in the series. Last season Central Missouri defeated Emporia State 1-0 in Emporia.
Four-time MIAA Coach of the Year,
Lewis Theobald is in his sixth season as head coach at Central Missouri and currently has an impressive 83-16-10 record.
With the Jennies 4-2 win over Winona State August 31st, Theobald became the all-time winningest coach in Jennies soccer history.
He recorded more wins in his first three seasons than any other coach in school history. He was the first assistant at Division I Indiana State, where he was the lead recruiter before coming to UCM.
He is a 1999 graduate of the University of Kansas.
The Coaches...
Tim Collins, Washburn: In building a soccer program from scratch to one competing for MIAA championships and NCAA appearances, ninth-year head coach Tim Collins has led the Lady Blues to two NCAA regional tournament appearances in the last four season and an MIAA regular season title in the program's fourth season.
Collins was named the first head coach in Lady Blues' history on Dec. 23, 2002 bringing experience and winning traditions from the high school ranks to the Washburn campus.
Entering his ninth season on the Lady Blues' sideline, Collins has recorded a 77-74-29 (.508) record while leading Washburn to two NCAA second round tournament appearances in the last five years.
Collins is a 1991 graduate Ottawa University.
Bryan Sailer, Emporia State: Bryan Sailer is in his second year as the head coach at Emporia State University. He was named the fifth head soccer coach at Emporia State in April of 2011.
He went 3-10-5 last season and finished fifth in the MIAA. With their fifth place finish, the Hornets earned their first ever post season berth, playing in the MIAA Tournament.
Sailer played collegiately at Monroe Community College and was an all-conference pick at State University of New York-Brockport after graduating from Monroe.
Scouting the week's competition...
Washburn: The Lady Blues enter the week with a 1-4-0 overall record and are 1-0-0 in the MIAA after posting a 1-0 victory over rival Emporia State last week in Topeka. Washburn is led by Caysie Beetley, who has scored three goals on 20 shot attempts. As a team the Lady Blues average 0.80 goals-per-game while their opponents average 1.80 per-game. Washburn averages 9.6 shots/game while its opponents take 12/game.
The Lady Blues starting goalkeeper is Tori Fuglister. She has played 475:48 minutes, snagging 26 saves and a goals-against-average of 1.70. Her record in-goal is 1-4-0 with one shutout.
Emporia State: The Hornets enter the week with a 2-3-0 overall record and are 0-1-0 in the MIAA after falling to Washburn last week in Topeka, 1-0. Emporia State is led by Ashleigh Harris who has scored one goal on seven shot attempts and contributed an assist for three points. As a team, Emporia State averages 0.80 goals/game while its opponents average 1/game. The Hornets average 11.2 shots/game while their opponents average 11.4/game.
The Hornets starting goalie is Nikki Schmitz. She has played 450:00 minutes, saving 18 shots and has a goals-against-average of 1.00. Her record in-goal is 2-3-0 with one shutout.
Clutch performances...
The Jennies got a clutch goal in the final two minutes of the match for the second time this season last Friday in Hays, Kansas. With the match tied at zero, it looked as though Central Missouri and Fort Hays State were headed to extra-time. But freshman forward
Alexis Robbers assured that wouldn't happen after drilling a free kick from 15 yards out into the back of the net with 15 seconds remaining in the match, sealing the Jennies 1-0 victory.
The first time the Jennies scored in the final two minutes of play occured against Minnesota State when senior midfielder
Kayla Shain had the game-winner for the Jens in the 88th minute.
The offense...
Jennies junior midfielder
Becky Lackey currently leads the Jennies in goals scored with four. This past week she scored the equalizing goal in the 72nd minute at Nebraska-Kearney. Freshman forward
Alexis Robbers is second in scoring for the Jennies, netting two goals so far this season.
Goal line presence...
Jennies junior goalkeeper
Jessica Grindstaff has only allowed a single goal in her last three matches. Her overall record in-goal this season is 2-0-2 with 12 saves and a goals-against-average of 0.48. She has two shutouts as well. The Lee's Summit native has allowed just two goals the entire season to date.
Veteran experience...
Copenhaver, Shain, Hanson and Stones will wear the captain's armband this season.
A new year, a new region...
Central Missouri will no longer be a member of the South Central Region. Beginning this season, the Jennies will compete in the Central Region, composed of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC), Great American Conference (GAC) and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA).
