Seventh ranked Jennies soccer will hit the road after opening the 2012 season a perfect 2-0 last week. The Jennies defeated Winona State University last Friday 4-2 then Minnesota State 2-1 Sunday.
UCM will travel to North Dakota for another pair of in-region matches starting Thursday in Bismarck with a 7:30 p.m. match against Mary and conclude Saturday in Minot with a noon match against Minor State.
Series History...
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Mary: The Jennies and Marauders have only met one other time in history, with the Jennies taking a 2-1 win over Mary in 2007 in the NCAA Tournament.
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Minot State: This will be the first-ever meeting between the Jennies and the Minot State Beavers.
The Coaches...
Sarah McNulty, Mary: After being an assistant at Mary the past three seasons, McNulty was elevated to head coach starting this season. McNulty is just the fifth women's soccer head coach at U-Mary since the program started in 1995. The Marauders have posted 15 winning seasons in 17 years.
An assistant coach for the Marauders for three seasons (2009-2011), McNulty helped the Marauders maintain their status as one of the top teams in the Northern Sun. U-Mary finished in the top five and posted a winning record and advanced to the NSIC tournament each year she was on the bench as the team's top assistant.
McNulty is a 2005 graduate of U-Mary with a secondary education degree in biology. She earned her USSF “A” license in 2009.
Jason Spain, Minot State: Spain was chosen as the first-ever head coach of the Minot State University women's soccer program this season.
Spain comes to Minot State after building Yuba College into a junior college powerhouse. Spain started the Yuba College soccer program in 1997, going 181-45-22 in 12 years with the women's program and 51-17-19 in four seasons with the men's team.
He holds a Bachelor's Degree in History/Education from Central Connecticut State in New Britain, Conn.
Head Coach Lewis Theobald...
Four-time MIAA Coach of the Year,
Lewis Theobald is in his sixth season as head coach at Central Missouri and currently has a stunning 81-16-8 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.
Scouting the week's competition...
Mary: The Marauders enter the week with an overall record of 1-0-0 after defeating Minot State in overtime last week, 1-0.
Mary's lone goal scorer in week one was sophomore Andrea Muller, who netted the game-winner in the 99th minute. As a team, the Marauders average a goal per-game and 16 shots per-game compared to 14 by their opponents. Mary also has a five to one advantage in corner kicks taken over their opponents.
Defensively, Mary's starting goalkeeper, senior Ashley Akers, has allowed no-goals in one match this season for a goals-against-average of 0.00. She has collected three saves.
Minot State: The Beavers enter the week at 1-1-0 overall. The opened the season with a convincing 7-1 victory over Minnesota State-Moorhead then fell to Mary in overtime, 1-0. Minot State will face fellow MIAA conference member Southwest Baptist Thursday before battling the Jennies Saturday.
Sophomore Zoe Fisher leads the Beavers in goals scored through two matches with four while five different players have an assist for Minot State. As a team, the Beavers outshoot their opponent 16-14 and average 3.50 goals per-game while limiting their opponents to 1.00. Minot State has only taken one corner kick in two matches, compared to seven by their opponents.
Defensively, Beaver's starting goalie, senior Marie Torres, has allowed two goals for a goals-against-average of 0.50. She has collected nine saves.
History made...
After last Friday's 4-2 victory over Winona State, Jennies head coach
Lewis Theobald recorded victory number 80, making him the all-time winningest coach in Jennies soccer history. Theobald's career record now stands at an impressive 81-16-8 in six seasons.
Late match heroics...
Jennies senior midfielder
Kayla Shain netted the game-winning-goal in the Jennies thrilling 2-1 victory against Minnesota State last Sunday. Shain controlled a perfect cross pass from
Becky Lackey and powered the ball to the lower left corner of the net in the 88th minute, just two minutes before regulation time ended, giving the Jennies the 2-1 win.
Offensive Balance...
In their first two matches, four different players have scored for the Jennies. Junior midfielder
Becky Lackey leads the group after scoring two goals in the 4-2 win against Winona State last Friday. She also contributed the game-winning assist in last Sunday's win over Minnesota State. Seniors
Aaryn Burke and
Kayla Shain along with freshman
Alexis Robbers have each contributed a goal.
Limiting goals...
The Jennies have only allowed three goals in their first two matches of 2012. Jennies freshman goalkeeper
Morgan Hartzler leads the Jennies with eight saves in two matches, allowing two goals for a goals-against-average of 1.10. Hartzler is 2-0-0 in-goal to start off the season.
Junior goalie
Jessica Grindstaff played in the second half of the Jennies victory Friday against Winona State, giving up one goal but making two saves.
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).
