Second Seeded Jennies Face Third Seeded Fort Hays State in MIAA Tournament Semifinals Thursday in Wichita

Charlie Martin

Women's Soccer | 11/8/2023 8:33:00 AM

2023 MIAA Women's Soccer Championship Semifinals
Match 20: No. 2 Central Missouri (14-3-2) vs. No. 3 Fort Hays State (13-3-3)
Thursday, Nov. 9 | Noon | Wichita, Kan. (Stryker Soccer Complex)
Live Video (PPV) | Live Stats

2023 Jennies Soccer Roster | 2023 Fort Hays State Roster | MIAA Women's Soccer Championship Page | United Soccer Coaches Poll

Scene Setter

No. 15-ranked and second-seeded Central Missouri Jennies soccer (14-3-2) is scheduled to face number three seeded Fort Hays State (13-3-3) in the semifinals of the 2023 MIAA Women's Soccer Championship Thursday, Nov. 9, at noon at the Stryker Soccer Complex in Wichita, Kan.
Central Missouri is ranked No. 15 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll and finished second in the MIAA during the regular season with a conference mark of 8-1-2.
The Jennies advanced to the semifinals after defeating Central Oklahoma in the first round Nov. 3, 2-1.
Through 19 matches, UCM is paced offensively by junior forward Ashleigh Martin (5 G, 7 A, 17 pts., 30 shots, 11 SOG, .367 SOG%, 2 GW), redshirt junior midfielder/forward Caroline Cole (6 G, 3 A, 15 pts., 45 shots, 21 SOG, .467 SOG%, 3 GW, 1-1 PK) freshman forward Mikayla Ernst (5 G, 3 A, 13 pts., 40 shots,17 SOG, .447 SOG%, 3 GW), freshman midfielder Ryann Clark (5 G, 3 A, 13 pts., 38 shots, 26 SOG, .650 SOG%) and junior midfielder Lexie Ruf (5 G, 1 A, 11 pts., 19 shots, 14 SOG, .737 SOG%, 2 GW).
With 19 matches in the books, Central Missouri's leading goalkeeper is freshman Kristen Wright (13-2-2, 1473:23, 6 GA, 0.37 GAA, 46 SV, .885 SV%, 8 SHO, 116 SF). Wright leads the MIAA in goals-against average (0.37) and save percentage (.885). She ranks sixth in NCAA Division in goals-against average (0.37) and ninth in save percentage (.885).
As a team, the Jennies are averaging 2.05 goals per game while limiting opponents to a MIAA-low 0.37 goals per game. UCM has outshot its adversaries through 19 matches, 317-125, and is averaging 16.7 shots per game while holding opponents to 6.6 shots per game. In addition, Central Missouri has controlled set pieces through 19 matches, taking 138 corner kicks compared to just 40 for opponents. UCM ranks fourth in the country with its 0.37 goals-against average.

Jennies Number Four in Latest NCAA-II Central Regional Rankings

No. 17 Central Missouri Jennies soccer is ranked fourth in the most recent NCAA-II Central Regional Rankings released Wednesday, Nov. 1.
The top eight teams in the final regional rankings released on Monday, Nov. 13, will qualify for the NCAA Division II women's soccer tournament.

Nine Jennies Earn All-MIAA Honors

UCM Jennies soccer team nine student-athletes garner All-MIAA honors for their performances on the soccer pitch during the 2023 MIAA conference season, the conference office announced Wednesday, Nov. 1.
Defender Emma Burden and midfielders Caroline Cole and Andree Orcutt received First Team All-MIAA accolades, goalkeeper Kristen Wright, defender Gracie Knight and forward Ashleigh Martin were named Second Team All-MIAA, midfielders Ryann Clark and Lexie Ruf earned Third Team All-MIAA recognition, and midfielder Aspen Patterson received Honorable Mention All-MIAA honors.

Weekly Honors

MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week: Mikayla Ernst, Sept. 19
MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week: Kristen Wright, Sept. 19, Sept. 26

Last Time Out for the Jennies

No. 17-ranked and second-seeded Central Missouri Jennies soccer advanced to the MIAA Women's Soccer Championship semifinals with a 2-1 win over seventh-seeded Central Oklahoma in the first round Friday, Nov. 3, at the South Recreation Complex.
UCM scored both of its goals in the first half of the match and was able to hold on the final 45 minutes for the victory.
Ryann Clark opened the scoring for Central Missouri in the 19th-minute, slotting a pass from Ashleigh Martin into the back of the net for her fifth goal of the season, giving UCM a 1-0 advantage.
The Bronchos answered in the 24th-minute, knotting the match, 1-1, on a goal from Amaya Grace.
UCM went back in front for good, 2-1, in the 41st-minute when Nayeli Gallo scored her first goal of 2023 on an assist from Andree Orcutt.
For the match, Central Missouri outshot Central Oklahoma, 20-12, including a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal. The Jennies also bested the Bronchos in corner kicks, 8-3.
UCM goalkeeper Kristen Wright (13-2-2-) earned the victory in goal after giving up one goal while making five saves in 90 minutes.

Home Sweet Home

Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 79-4-2 at the South Recreation Complex. During that span, UCM has surrendered just 59 goals.
All-time at the South Recreation Complex, UCM is 154-14-9 under head coach Lewis Theobald and 218-35-10 in overall program history. The Jennies have compiled undefeated home records five times.

New Faces in the 'Burg

The Jennies welcome 10 newcomers to their 2023 squad, including nine high school freshmen and one transfer.
Incoming high school student-athletes include Emilee Person (D), Aspen Patterson (MF), Ryann Clark (MF), Mikayla Ernst (F), Hadley Lockhart (F), Kristen Wright (GK), Sophia Campbell (MF) and Hayleigh Martin (GK) while goalkeeper Maddie Meehan is the lone incoming transfer.

Series History

Fort Hays State: The Jennies and Fort Hays State Tigers will meet for the 18th time in the all-time series Thursday in Wichita in the MIAA tournament semifinals. UCM leads the series, 14-2-1. The Jennies defeated the Tigers earlier this season in Warrensburg on Oct. 22, 3-0. In the MIAA tournament against Fort Hays State, Central Missouri is 4-1-0. The Jennies defeated the Tigers in the semifinals last season in Warrensburg, 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 289-44-25 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 135 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.

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