Match 15: No. 12 Central Missouri (8-2-4, 5-0-3 MIAA) at Washburn (8-2-3, 5-0-2 MIAA)
Friday, Oct. 24 | 6 p.m. | Topeka, Kan. (Yager Stadium)
Live Video (PPV) |
Live Stats
Match 16: No. 12 Central Missouri at Emporia State (7-4-2, 4-1-2 MIAA)
Sunday, Oct. 26 | 1 p.m. | Emporia, Kan. (ESU Soccer Pitch)
Live Video (PPV) |
Live Stats
2025 Jennies Soccer Roster |
2025 Washburn Soccer Roster |
2025 Emporia State Soccer Roster |
MIAA Women's Soccer
Scene Setter
- No. 12-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies Soccer (8-2-4, 5-0-3 MIAA) is scheduled to take on the Washburn Ichabods (8-2-3, 5-0-2 MIAA) in Topeka, Kan., on Friday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. at Yager Stadium before facing off against the Emporia State Hornets (7-4-2, 4-1-2 MIAA) on Sunday, Oct. 26, at 1 p.m. at ESU Soccer Pitch in Emporia, Kan., in a pair of MIAA matches.
- Central Missouri went 1-0-1 last week, tying Central Oklahoma Oct. 17 in Edmond, Okla., 0-0, before posting a 3-0 shutout win at Newman Oct. 19 in Wichita, Kan.
- Through 14 matches, the Jennies are paced by forwards Mikayla Ernst (11 G, 5 A, 27 Pts, 58 Sh, 30 SOG, .517 SOG%, 4 GWG, 2-3 PK), Patsy O'Brien (4 G, 3 A, 11 Pts, 21 Sh, 13 SOG, .619 SOG%, 1 GWG) and Izzy Joyce (3 G, 4 A, 10 Pts, 20 Sh, 13 SOG, .650 SOG%), and midfielder Coryn Jespersen (3 G, 3 A, 9 Pts, 17 Sh, 8 SOG, .471 SOG%, 1 GWG).
- Ernst currently leads the MIAA and ranks fourth in NCAA Division II in goals scored (11). In addition, she leads the conference and is second in the country in points (27).
- In goal for UCM, goalkeeper Kristen Wright is 8-2-4 with a team-best seven shutouts. She has allowed just seven goals while making 46 saves for a 0.52 goals-against average (GAA) in 1222:33 minutes. She is second in the conference and 12th nationally in shutouts through 14 contests.
- As a team, UCM is averaging 2.21 goals per game and 14.1 shots per game while holding its opponents to 0.50 goals per game and 9.3 shots per game. The Jennies have a 0.576 shots on goal percentage and are holding adversaries to a 0.423 shots on goal percentage. Central Missouri has taken 94 corner kicks through 14 matches.
- The Jennies lead the MIAA in goals scored with 31 and are third in goals allowed, giving up just seven goals in 14 contests.
Ernst Joins the UCM Record Book
- Mikayla Ernst became just the third player in program history to score a Central Missouri single-match record four goals in UCM's 7-2 win over Harding Sept. 21. Ernst joins former Jennies Jada Scott (vs. Missouri Western in 2016) and Sarah Bourn (vs. Southwest Baptist in 1995) at the top of the single-match goals scored record list with her four goals.
Preseason Picks
- Jennies Soccer was voted No. 1 in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll for the 2025 season.
- UCM received 132 points and four first-place votes in the poll.
- Central Missouri is ranked No. 12 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 Poll released Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Home Sweet Home
- Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 94-7-3 at the South Recreation Complex. During that span, UCM has surrendered just 69 goals.
- All-time at the South Recreation Complex, UCM is 169-17-10 under head coach Lewis Theobald and 233-38-11 in overall program history. The Jennies have compiled undefeated home records five times.
Series History
- Washburn: UCM and Washburn will meet for the 35th time in the all-time series Friday evening in Topeka. UCM leads the series, 25-8-1. Last season, Central Missouri fell to Washburn in Warrensburg, 1-0.
- Emporia State: The Jennies and Hornets of Emporia State will meet for the 40th time in the all-time series Sunday afternoon in Emporia. UCM leads the series, 28-9-2. The Jennies turned back the Hornets at the South Recreation Complex last season, 2-0.
Weekly Honors
- 2025 Jennies Soccer MIAA Weekly Honors: Offensive Athlete of the Week: Mikayla Ernst (Sept. 16, Sept. 23); Goalkeeper of the Week: Kristen Wright (Sept. 16); Defensive Athlete of the Week: Mackenzie Smith (Oct. 14)
New Faces for 2025
Head Coach Lewis Theobald
Lewis Theobald, now in his 18th year, has transformed the Jennies Soccer program into one of the premier programs not only in the MIAA but also in NCAA Division II.
The 11-time MIAA and five-time region Coach of the Year has an impressive 316-53-31 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 2025 season as the winningest active coach in Division II women's soccer with an .833 winning percentage, among coaches with at least five years on the sidelines. He is also 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 22 All-Americans in
Ashleigh Martin,
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 60 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 142 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, Julia Kristensen and
Izzy Joyce; 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 are back home at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg for their final two matches of the regular season, hosting Missouri Southern on Friday, Oct. 31, at 6 p.m. and Pittsburg State on Sunday, Nov. 2, at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
