Opening Kick
• Jennies Soccer will look to win their fourth straight NCAA Central Region crown after defeating Augustsana (SD) 3-0 in the Central Region Semifinals. Central Missouri will take on Southwestern Oklahoma State for the Regional title on Friday, Nov. 17, with a berth to the National Quarterfinals on the line.
• UCM will also host the Midwest Region Final match as they are the highest remaining seed in the Central Region. If the Jennies advance, they will take on the winner of Grand Valley State and Quincy who will duke it out for the Midwest Region Title.
• The Jennies brought in a number All-Region accolades before the start of the region final. Earlier this week,
Ana Dilkes,
Jada Scott,
Kayla Hamner,
Abby Rhodes,
Baylie Edwards, and
Megan Woolley were all named to the D2CCA Central Region Team. Dilkes, Scott, Hamner, Rhodes, and Edwards all were named to the region's first team, while Woolley was named to the region's second team.
Scouting the Competition
SW Oklahoma State
• The Bulldogs are 13-3-5 entering their postseason match with the Jennies. They entered the NCAA postseason as the No. 6 seed in the region and have earned wins over No. 3 seeded Missouri Western and No. 2 seeded Minnesota State to advance to their first ever regional final match.
• Offensively, the point of attack runs through Alimata Rabo, who has 68 points on an NCAA leading 28 goals and 12 assists. Rabo was named the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year for the second year in a row. Helping out on offense is Sandra Nabweteme with 13 goals and four assists for 30 points.
• Defensively, the Bulldogs have allowed 26 goals. In net they have use two goalkeepers, but Lexi Bates has seen most of the action playing 19 games and making 17 starts. Bates is 9-3-5 this season.
Grand Valley State
• The Lakers are 19-3 entering their Midwest Region Final match with the Quincy Hawks. They earned the No. 1 seed yet again in the Midwest Region and will look to down Quincy for a second time this season. The two teams met back in September, with GVSU winning 2-0.
• Gabriella Mencotti leads the way for the Lakers offense as she has scored an NCAA leading 28 goals along with nine assists for 65 points. She is one of eight Laker players with double-digit points on the season. Mencotti was named the D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year.
• Defensively, the Lakers have allowed 11 goals this season which is 10th best in the NCAA this season. GVSU has used three different players in net this year, but Jennifer Steinway has started all 22 games, and has a 19-2 record with nine shutouts.
Quincy
• The Hawks are 17-3-1 entering the weekend and are making their 10th NCAA appearance under head coach Dave Musso. They will look to avenge an earlier season loss to the Lakers, where they fell 2-0.
• Mackenzie Rief is the offensive player for the Hawks with 23 points on 10 goals and three assists this season. Behind her with 13 points (5g, 3a) is Cassidy Fole. In all, the Hawks have four players who have eclipsed double-digit points this season.
• On the defensive end, the Hawks have allowed 14 goals this season. Goalkeeper Megan Swanson has started all 21 games for Quincy this season and is 17-3-1 on the year with 13 shutouts.
The Best Defense is a Good Offense
• The Jennies 79 goals scored this season ranks them in the top five in Division II in total goals at third.
• The Jennies are averaging 3.59 goals per game this season which ranks third in Division II in scoring offense.
• UCM's 42 assists this season are the most in the MIAA and is tied for 13th most in Division II.
• With 200 points total on 79 goals scored and 42 assists, the Jennies are third in Division II in total points.
• In 21 games this season, UCM outscored opponents 76-3 with a 476-164 shots advantage.
Numbers Never Lie
• The Jennies posted 19 shutouts in 22 of their wins this season and their three goals allowed is the least allowed in Division II this season.
• The Jennies all-around defense in shutouts (19), shutout percentage (.864), goals-against average (.136), and save percentage (.959) leads all of Division II this season.
• The Jennies are only team in Division II that has allowed just three goals this season. The Jennies three goals allowed is least allowed in the MIAA. The next closest team is Missouri Western with 16 goals allowed.
One for the Record Books
• The 2017 squad is the first team in program history and MIAA history to post 12 consecutive shutouts.
• UCM was just the fourth team in NCAA Division II history to post 12 consecutive shutouts
• Dating back to the 2015 season, UCM has scored a goal in 55 straight games which is an MIAA record.
•
Ana Dilkes is the only goalkeeper in MIAA history to post 12 consecutive shutouts. She is the all-time Division II leader in career shutouts with 62.
• The Jennies are 22-0-0 for the first time in program history. No other team in program history has ever accomplished that feat.
• UCM's 200 points and 79 goals are the most in a single season in program history.
There's No Place Like Home
• Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 26-0-0 at Jennies Field and have allowed just five goals in that span.
• The Jennies have outscored opponents 81-5 in goals at home since 2016, and have allowed just three goals at home this season in 12 games.
• All-time at Jennies Field, UCM is 136-26-7 with a .825 winning percentage. Under Head Coach
Lewis Theobald, the Jennies are 107-9-5 at home since 2007 and have posted undefeated home records three times.
Survive and Advance
• In the NCAA Tournament, UCM is 10-7-3 all-time. Under
Lewis Theobald, the Jennies are 10-6-3.
• The Jennies are 7-1-1 in the national tournament when playing at home. With the win over Augustana, the Jennies are 6-1-1 in the Region Semifinals all-time.
• In the Region Finals, UCM is 3-1-1 all-time and has won its last three matches.
