WARRENSBURG, Mo. -- The Jennies have made the third round of the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, where they will take on Minnesota State-Mankato, also for the second year in a row. This game will be the first time the No. 8 Jennies have faced a team in the NSCAA Top 25.
The Jennies received a bye in the first round, then used two second-half goals to beat Minot State 2-0 in round two of the NCAA Tournament. If the Jens beat Minnesota State- Mankato, they will host the winner of the Grand Valley State vs Bellermine game that will be played Friday at noon, prior to Central Missouri's game. UCM won the Central Region last season, but fell 3-1 to the eventual National Champions Grand Valley State in the Quarterfinals.
Series HistoryMinn. St. Mankato UCM leads 5-4-2Central Missouri holds a slim advantage in the overall series, and the same goes for when the teams face each other in the playoffs. The Jennies lead the playoff series 1-0-2, but Minnesota State-Mankato advanced on PK's in both of the ties. This is the first time the two teams have played in Warrensburg in the playoffs. The two teams are evenly matched in goals scored with the Jennies holding a 20-19 advantage. The two teams met last year in the third round of the NCAA Tournament where the Jens won 3-2 in overtime.
Scouting the CompetitionMinnesota State-Mankato:• The Mavericks are 8-1-0 on the road this season. Their only loss came against Grand Valley State on September 13th.
• The Mavericks enter the third round of the NCAA Tournament after receiving a bye in round one, then beating No. 18 Augustana 2-0 in round two.
• They have made at least the second round of the playoffs six years in a row.
• Minnesota State-Mankato is 1-0 against MIAA teams this year, recording a 5-0 win at home over Central Oklahoma.
• The Mavericks sit 15th in Division II in goals against average with a 0.56 average. They have recorded 11 shutouts this season, while allowing only 12 goals.
• MSU-M led the NSIC in goals with 69.
• Senior forward Korey Kronforst leads the team in goals, assists, and points with 19 goals, 10 assists, and 48 points. She ranks seventh in goals, and is tied for 10th in assists in Division II.
• Senior goalkeeper Lauren Hoeppner has started all 21 games for the Mavericks this season, and has recorded 93 saves with a .886 save percentage and is allowing an average of 0.59 goals per game. She ranks eighth in save percentage and 18th in goals against average in Division II.
• Junior midfielder Kiana Nickel is second on the team in goals and points with 11 and 29 respectively. She also has seven assists this season.
• Minnesota State-Mankato won their games this season by an average of 2.72 goals.
Goals, Goals and More Goals• UCM is tied for sixth in total goals scored in Division II, and first in the MIAA with 63.
•
Megan Woolley is tied for 37th in goals scored with 13 and
Julie Ireland is tied for 43rd in goals scored with 12 in Division II.
• The Jens have scored 63 goals this season which ties the record for most goals scored in a season which was set during the 2011 season, and matched in the 2014 season.
Defense Wins Championships•
Ana Dilkes' .902 save percentage is tops in the MIAA, and
ranks fourth in Division II. Her 0.37 goals against average are also tops in the MIAA and ranks fifth in Division II. The Jens rank first in the MIAA in goals against average, and sixth in Division II with 0.41 goals allowed per game.
• The Jennies are seventh in Division II in shutout percentage with a .682 percentage. UCM has recorded shutouts in 15 of their 22 games this year.
• The Jens have only given up nine goals all season. The record for the fewest goals allowed in a season is nine, which was set in 1998 and matched in 2011.
