Top-Seeded Jennies Move On to MIAA Tournament Championship with 3-2 win vs. Central Oklahoma

WARRENSBURG, Mo. –- Sydney Leslie broke a 2-2 tie with a penalty-kick goal with less than three minutes to go in the second half to send top-seeded University of Central Missouri Jennies soccer to the MIAA Women's Soccer Championship match with a 3-2 victory over fourth-seeded Central Oklahoma Friday, Nov. 12, at the South Recreation Complex.

The Jennies (17-2-1) will take on second-seeded Emporia State (17-2-1) in the title match Sunday, Nov. 14, at 1 p.m. at South Rec. The Lady Hornets defeated third-seeded Northwest Missouri in the other semifinal contest, 2-0. 

Leslie, a freshman who hails from Lenexa, Kan., posted two goals in the match, scoring in the 20th-minute of the match before converting her game-winning penalty-kick in the 87th-minute. Her two strikes increased her season total to 14 -- second-highest on the team. Nayeli Gallo scored UCM's opening goal of the match in the 7th-minute. It was her second goal of 2021. 

Junior Kassie Newsom provided the assists on both Gallo and Leslie's goals, upping her single-season assist record tally to 15. She also tied the Central Missouri women's soccer single-season points record in the match with 49 total points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 2021. 

UCM goalkeeper Sydney Daris improved to 4-0-0 in goal after making a career-high seven saves in 90 minutes between the posts. 

The Jennies were outshot by the Bronchos (13-5-2) in the match, 28-7, including a 9-3 margin in shots on goal. 

Madison Linavong (65th-minute) and Adria Ramirez (71st-minute) scored UCO's two goals, while Kassidy Collins and Eden Jones tallied assists, leading Central Oklahoma. 

Broncho goalkeeper Kaitlyn Asher suffered the loss between the pipes after allowing three goals on zero saves in 90 minutes.