Match 15: No. 17 Central Missouri (10-3-1, 5-1-1 MIAA) vs. Nebraska Kearney (2-10-2, 1-4-2 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 20 | 7 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (South Recreation Complex)
Live Video (PPV) |
Live Stats
Match 16: No. 17 Central Missouri vs. Fort Hays State (10-1-3, 6-0-1 MIAA)
Sunday, Oct. 22 | 1 p.m. | Warrensburg, Mo. (South Recreation Complex)
Live Video (PPV) |
Live Stats
2023 Jennies Soccer Roster |
2023 Nebraska Kearney Roster |
2023 Fort Hays State Roster |
MIAA Women's Soccer |
United Soccer Coaches Poll
Scene Setter
- No. 17-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies soccer (10-3-1, 5-1-1 MIAA) is scheduled to host Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State in a pair of UCM Homecoming Weekend matches Friday, Oct. 20, at Sunday, Oct. 22, at the South Recreation Complex. UCM is slated to face the Lopers of Nebraska Kearnery (2-10-2, 1-4-2 MIAA) Friday at 7 p.m. before taking on the Tigers of Fort Hays State (10-1-3, 6-0-1 MIAA) at 1 p.m. Sunday.
- Central Missouri is ranked No. 17 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll and is the favorite in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- The Jennies are coming off a 1-1-0 week, defeating Emporia State Friday, Oct. 13, in Emporia, Kan., 1-0, before falling to then No. 23-ranked Washburn, 1-0, Sunday, Oct. 15, in Topeka, Kan.
- Through 14 matches, UCM is paced offensively by freshman forward Mikayla Ernst (5 G, 2 A, 12 pts., 35 shots,15 SOG, .429 SOG%, 3 GW), redshirt junior midfielder/forward Caroline Cole (3 G, 2 A, 8 pts., 34 shots, 13 SOG, .382 SOG%, 2 GW), freshman midfielder Ryann Clark (2 G, 3 A, 7 pts., 22 shots, 14 SOG, .636 SOG%), junior forward Ashleigh Martin (3 G, 1 A, 7 pts., 20 shots, 7 SOG, .350 SOG%) and junior midfielder Lexie Ruf (3 G, 1 A, 7 pts., 12 shots, 8 SOG, .667 SOG%, 2 GW).
- With 14 matches in the books, Central Missouri's leading goalkeeper is freshman Kristen Wright (9-2-1, 1066:00, 4 GA, 0.34 GAA, 32 SV, .879 SV%, 7 SHO, 81 SF). Wright leads the MIAA in goals-against average (0.34) and save percentage (.879), and is third in shutouts (7). She ranks ninth in NCAA Division in goals-against average (0.34), and 15th in shutouts (7) and save percentage (.879).
- As a team, the Jennies are averaging 1.64 goals per game while limiting opponents to a MIAA-low 0.36 goals per game. UCM has outshot its adversaries through 14 matches, 216-88, and is averaging 15.4 shots per game while holding opponents to 6.3 shots per game. In addition, Central Missouri has controlled set pieces through its first 14 matches, taking 92 corner kicks compared to just 27 for opponents.
Weekly Honors
Preseason Picks
- Jennies soccer was voted preseason No. 1 in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll for the 2023 season.
- UCM received 119 points and nine of 12 possible first-place votes in the poll.
Last Time Out for the Jennies
- No. 8-ranked Central Missouri Jennies fell at No. 23 Washburn, 1-0, Sunday, Oct. 15, at Yager Stadium.
- Washburn's Khloe Schuckman scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the sixth-minute of the match.
- For the match, Washburn outshot UCM, 6-5. The Jennies and Ichabods both tallied three shots on goal.
- Central Missouri goalkeeper Kristen Wright (9-2-1) suffered the loss between the posts after giving up one goal while making two saves in 90 minutes.
- Reagan Wells earned the win in goal for Washburn, surrendering no goals while making three saves in 90 minutes.
Home Sweet Home
- Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 75-4-1 at the South Recreation Complex. During that span, UCM has surrendered just 57 goals.
- All-time at the South Recreation Complex, UCM is 150-14-8 under head coach Lewis Theobald and 214-35-9 in overall program history. The Jennies have compiled undefeated home records five times.
New Faces in the 'Burg
Series History
- Nebraska Kearney: UCM and Nebraska Kearney will meet for the 12th time in the all-time series Friday dating back to the first meeting in 2011. UCM leads the series, 10-0-1, and is 5-0-0 against the Lopers in Warrensburg. Last season, Central Missouri posted a 3-0 win over Nebraska Kearney in Kearney, Neb.
- Fort Hays State: The Jennies and Tigers will meet for the 17th time in the all-time series Sunday going back to the inaugural encounter in 2011. Central Missouri leads the series, 13-2-1, and is 9-1-0 vs. Fort Hays State at the South Recreation Complex. Last season, UCM went 1-0-1 against FHSU, playing to a 1-1 draw in Hays, Kan., during the regular season before defeating the Tigers in the MIAA Tournament, 2-0.
Head Coach Lewis Theobald
Lewis Theobald, now in his 16th year, has transformed the Jennies Soccer program into one of the premier programs not only in the MIAA, but in all of NCAA Division II.
The 11-time MIAA and five-time region Coach of the Year has an impressive 285-44-24 record. He recorded more wins in his first three seasons than any other coach in school history and is the all-time winningest coach in both Jennies soccer and MIAA women's soccer history. He brought home the program's first ever National Championship in the 2017 season.
Theobald entered the 2023 season as the winningest active coach in Division II women's soccer with an .845 winning percentage, among coaches with at least five years on the sidelines. He also is the all-time D-II leader among coaches with at least 10 years and is fifth all-time in all NCAA Divisions.
During his tenure, Theobald has coached 20 All-Americans in
Lindsay Edmonds,
Julia Kristensen, Kassie Newsom,
Caroline Cole, Ana Dilkes, Emily Eldridge, Baylie Edwards, Randi Fernsler, Allysa Gann, Kayla Hamner, Julie Ireland, Becky Lackey, Cindy Lackey, Abby Rhodes, Alyssa Rhodes, Jada Scott, Carly Stanley, Jenna Stones, Makayla Toth and Megan Woolley and has led 55 players to All-Region status. He also coached Dilkes, a goalkeeper, to a National Player of the Year honor during the 2017 season.
He has coached 126 All-Conference players, including Most Valuable Players Melanie Hall, Kayla Shain and two-time Player of the Year Alyssa Rhodes; Offensive Players of the Years Carly Stanley, Julie Ireland, Jada Scott, Kassie Newsom and
Julia Kristensen; Freshmen of the Year Alyssa Rhodes, Stanley, Hannah Pyle, Alexis Robbers, Nicki Wisnasky,
Caroline Cole and
Julia Kristensen; Defenders of the Year, Emily Eldridge, Allysa Gann, Cindy Lackey and Abby Rhodes; two-time Goalkeeper of the Year Lindsey Johnson and four-time Goalkeeper of the Year Ana Dilkes.
A 1999 graduate of the University of Kansas, Theobald received his bachelor's degree in education with a concentration in physical education.
On the Horizon
Central Missouri wraps up the 2023 regular season with a pair of home matches in Warrensburg, hosting Missouri Western Friday, Oct. 27, and Missouri Southern Sunday, Oct. 29.
