The Week Ahead
• The Jennies will travel to Allendale, Mich. to take on MIAA foe Fort Hays State, this time for the Central Region crown. The Jennies defeated the Central Oklahoma Bronchos, 2-1, to advance and will look to win their third straight Central Region Championship, and earn a bid to the Elite Eight.
• The Jennies will make their fifth apperance in the Central Region finals. They enter with a record of 2-1-1 all-time, and are the two time defending champions.
• The Jennies and Tigers will play at 6:30 p.m. CT, with the winner advancing to the Elite Eight to take on the winner of No. 1 Grand Valley State versus No. 22 Truman. Kickoff for Sunday's game is set for 12 p.m. CT.
Series History
Fort Hays State: UCM leads 6-2-0
UCM and FHSU will matchup for the second time this season. The last time these two teams met, the Jennies defeated the Tigers, 1-0, at Jennies Field in Warrensburg. Both teams finished first in the MIAA standings with conference records of 10-1 to share the regular season title. The Tigers last win against the Jennies came in 2015 when they defeated the Jennies, 2-1, in Hays. UCM has outscored FHSU 12-8 in the series.
Scouting the Competition
Fort Hays State
• The Tigers enter the Central Region Championship as the No. 3 seed and ranked 24th in Division-II. The Tigers are 15-4-3 entering the weekend and finished with an MIAA record of 10-1, while Head Coach Craig Shaw was named the MIAA Coach of the Year.
• The Tigers tied their NCAA 2nd round match with Minnesota State-Mankato but advanced on penalty kicks, 4-2.
• Offensively, the Tigers are led by Thalya Dwyer who has nine goals and two assists on the season for 20 points.
• Defensively, the Tigers have allowed just 12 goals this season. In net, Abbie Flax enters the weekend with a record of 13-4-2.
Grand Valley State
• The Lakers enter the weekend with a record of 20-1-1, ranked second in Division-II, and the three time defending national champions. The Lakers went 11-0 in the GLIAC and captured both the regular season and tournament title.
• The Lakers are the No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and defeated Missouri-St. Louis in the 2nd round, 2-0, to advance to the Midwest Region finals. They matchup against the No. 2 seed Truman Bulldogs.
• Offensively, the Lakers are tied for first in Division-II in total goals with 92. Gabriella Mencotti leads the Laker offensive with 28 goals and 10 assists.
• Defensively, the Lakers are tied for first in Division-II in shutouts with 18. In net, Jennifer Steinaway is 20-1-1 entering the weekend.
Truman
• The Bulldogs enter the Midwest Region finals seeded No. 2 and ranked No. 22 in Division-II. The Bulldogs are 15-1-4 entering the weekend. They finished 12-1-2 in GLVC play and captured their 10th regular season title.
• The Bulldogs defeated the McKendree Bearcats, 1-0, in the 2nd round of the Midwest Region to advance to the regional finals where they will take on top seeded Grand Valley State.
• Offensively, the Bulldogs are led by Hannah Burke who enters the weekend with six goals and three assists for 15 points. Three other Bulldogs enter the weekend with double-digit points as well.
• Defensively, the Bulldogs are third in Division-II in shutouts with 16. In net, Katie Mattingly is 15-1-4 entering the weekend.
Numbers Never Lie
• The Jennies reached 20 wins for the third time in program history, all of which have come under Head Coach
Lewis Theobald.
• The Jennies won their 11th straight game which is the third longest winning streak in program history, all of which have come under Head Coach
Lewis Theobald.
• The Jennies finished undefeated at home with a record of 12-0 and allowed just two goals in that span. Both season bests in program history.
• The Jennies have been ranked in the top-five in all 10 regular season and the preseason NSCAA polls in 2016.
• The Jennies 18 shutouts this season is the most in a single season in program history.
The Best Offense is a Good Defense
• In Division-II,
Ana Dilkes ranks first in save percentage at .967 and goals against average at .15.
• In Division-II, the Jennies are first in shutout percentage, goals against average, and total goals allowed at .900, .150, and three, respectively.
• The Jennies are tied for first in NCAA-II in shutouts with 18.
• In the MIAA,
Jada Scott is first in total goals, points, and assists with 15, 37, and seven, respectively.
• In Division-II, the Jennies are eighth in scoring offense with 2.86 goals per game, tied for eighth in total goals with 60, and 10th in total points with 159.
Postseason Play
• The Jennies appearance in this years national tournament marks their 10th appearance in program history, all of which have come under Head Coach
Lewis Theobald.
• The Jennies enter the weekend with an overall record of 8-6-3 in the national tournament.
• The Jennies win over Central Oklahoma improved their regional second round record to 5-1-1 all-time and it was their second win over UCO in the national tournament.
• The Jennies appearance in the Central Region Finals will be their third straight appearance and fifth overall in program history.
• This is the first time in program history the Jennies have faced back-to-back MIAA opponents in the national tournament.
