No. 25 Jennies Soccer Returns Home to Host Central Oklahoma, Newman Friday & Sunday

Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Women's Soccer | 10/15/2024 2:24:00 PM

Scene Setter

No. 25-ranked Central Missouri Jennies soccer (7-3-2, 4-1-1 MIAA) is scheduled to return home to the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg to host the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (6-4-2, 3-1-2 MIAA) and Newman Jets (0-11-1, 0-6 MIAA) in a pair of MIAA matches Friday, Oct. 18, and Sunday, Oct. 20. UCM is slated to face the Bronchos at 6 p.m. Friday before taking on the Jets Sunday at 1 p.m.
The Jennies went 0-1-1 last week, tying Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo., Oct. 11, 4-4, before falling at now No. 20-ranked Missouri Western Oct. 13, 1-0.
Central Missouri is ranked No. 25 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Poll released Tuesday, Oct. 15.
Through 12 matches, the Jennies are paced by forwards Ashleigh Martin (7 G, 3 A, 17 Pts, 23 Sh, .304 Shot%, 14 SOG, .609 SOG%, 1 GW, 3-3 PK), Izzy Joyce (4 G, 1 A, 9 Pts, 31 Sh, .129 Shot%, 13 SOG, .419 SOG%, 2 GW), and midfielders Caroline Cole (4 G, 4 A, 12 Pts, 23 Sh, .174 Shot%, 10 SOG, .435 SOG%, 2 GW) and Lexie Ruf (3 G, 3 A, 9 Pts, 24 Sh, .125 Sh%, 9 SOG, .375 SOG%, 2 GW).
Martin is third in both goals (seven) and points (17) in the MIAA through 12 matches while Cole is tied for third in assists (four) and sixth in points (12).
In goal through 12 matches, Central Missouri paced by Kristen Wright (7-3-2, 9 GA, 53 SV, 0.85 GAA, .855 Save%, 4 SHO).
Wright is third in the MIAA in save percentage (.855) and goals-against average (GAA) at 0.85 and fourth in shutouts per game at .333.
Jennies head coach Lewis Theobald needs just two wins to reach 300 in his 17 years as the head coach for UCM Women's Soccer. Theobald enters the week with a 298-49-27 career record.

Weekly Honors

MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week: Caroline Cole, Sept. 10; Ashlegh Martin, Oct. 8

Preseason Picks

Jennies soccer was voted No. 2 in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll for the 2024 season.
UCM received 131 points and three first-place votes in the poll.

Home Sweet Home

Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 83-5-2 at the South Recreation Complex. During that span, UCM has surrendered just 64 goals.
All-time at the South Recreation Complex, UCM is 158-15-9 under head coach Lewis Theobald and 222-36-10 in overall program history. The Jennies have compiled undefeated home records five times.

New Faces in the 'Burg

The Jennies welcome six newcomers to their 2024 squad, including five high school freshmen and one transfer.
Incoming high school student-athletes include Ava Lunders (MF), Izzy Joyce (F), Patsy O'Brien (F), Kate Ricker (MF) and Mackenzie Smith (D) while forward Laney Reishus (Kansas State) is the lone transfer entering 2024.

Series History

Central Oklahoma: UCM and Central Oklahoma will meet for the 27th time in the all-time series Friday evening in Warrensburg. Central Missouri leads the series, 15-7-4. Last season, the Jennies went 1-0-1 against the Bronchos, playing to a 0-0 tie against UCO in Edmond, Okla., before beating the Bronchos in the first round of the MIAA tournament in Warrensburg, 2-1.
Newman: Central Missouri and Newman will meet for the fifth time in the all-time series Sunday afternoon in Johnson County, Missouri. UCM leads the series, 4-0. The Jennies posted a 2-0 win over the Jets in Wichita, Kan., last season.

Last Time Out for the Jennies: No. 5 Jennies Soccer Falls at Missouri Western, 1-0

No. 5-ranked Central Missouri Jennies soccer fell to the Missouri Western Griffons, 1-0, Sunday afternoon, Oct. 13, at Spratt Stadium.
Missouri Western's Camrin Peaslee netted what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 51st-minute of the match.
For the match, the Griffons outshot the Jennies, 11-9, including a 5-2 advantage in shots on goal. Both teams took six corner kicks in the contest.
UCM goalkeeper Kristen Wright (7-3-2) suffered the setback in goal after giving up one goal while making four saves in 90 minutes.
Missouri Western goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg (11-0-1) earned the victory, allowing no goals while making two saves in 90 minutes.

Head Coach Lewis Theobald
Lewis Theobald, now in his 17th 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 298-49-27 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 enters the 2024 season as the winningest active coach in Division II women's soccer with an .838 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 21 All-Americans in Andree Orcutt, 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.

On the Horizon
The Jennies wrap up their 2024 regular season home schedule hosting Washburn Friday, Oct. 25, and Emporia State Sunday, Oct. 27, at the South Recreation Complex.

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