No. 15 Jennies Soccer Welcomes Ouachita Baptist Friday, Harding Sunday for Home-Opening Weekend

Andrew Mather | University Photographer

Women's Soccer | 9/18/2025 9:50:00 AM

Scene Setter

No. 15-ranked University of Central Missouri Jennies Soccer (1-2-1) is scheduled to open its 2025 home schedule at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg with non-conference matches against the Ouachita Baptist Tigers (1-2-1) Friday, Sept. 19, at 6 p.m. and Harding Lady Bisons (2-1-1) Sunday, Sept. 21. at 1 p.m.
UCM went 1-1 in two matches in Allendale, MIch., last week, shutting out No. 12-ranked Ashland, 2-0, Sept. 12, before falling at No. 4 Grand Valley State, 2-1, Sept. 14.
Through four matches, the Jennies are paced by forward Mikayla Ernst (2 G, 1 A, 5 Pts, 11 SH, 5 SOG, .455 SOG%, 1 GWG), midfielder Aspen Patterson (1 G, 2 Pts, 5 SH, 3 SOG, .600 SOG%), forward Izzy Joyce (1 A, 1 Pt, 3 Sh, 2 SOG, .667 SOG%) and defender Gracie Knight (1 A, 1 Pt).
As a team, UCM is averaging 0.75 goals per game and 8.3 shots per game while its opponents are averaging 0.75 goals per game and 14 shots per game. The Jennies have a 0.576 shots on goal percentage and are holding adversaries to a 0.357 shots on goal percentage. Central Missouri has taken 22 corner kicks through four matches.

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. 15 in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 Poll release Tuesday, Sept. 16.

Home Sweet Home

Dating back to the 2016 season, the Jennies are 89-7-2 at the South Recreation Complex. During that span, UCM has surrendered just 66 goals.
All-time at the South Recreation Complex, UCM is 164-17-9 under head coach Lewis Theobald and 228-38-10 in overall program history. The Jennies have compiled undefeated home records five times.

Weekly Honors

Mikayla Ernst was voted the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week and Kristen Wright was tabbed the Goalkeeper of the Week for their performances on the soccer pitch during the week of Sept. 8-14.
Ernst scored two goals and dished out an assist for five total points on the week. In UCM's 2-0, shutout win over No. 12 Ashland Friday, Sept. 12, Ernst netted both goals in the contest, scoring what turned out to be the game-winner in the 26th minute, before tallying her second goal of the contest in the 64th minute.
At No. 4 Grand Valley State on Sunday, Sept. 14, Ernst posted an assist on Aspen Patterson's third-minute goal.
Wright went 1-1 in goal for the week, including earning her second shutout of the season in Central Missouri's 2-0 victory over No. 12 Ashland Friday.
On the week, Wright compiled 12 saves (six vs. Ashland and at Grand Valley State), while allowing two goals for a 1.00 goals-against average (GAA) in 180 minutes.

New Faces for 2025

The Jennies welcome 10 newcomers to their 2025 squad, including eight high school freshmen and two transfers.
Incoming high school student-athletes include Kate Martin (D), Kara Robinson (MF), Alexandra Hofbauer (F), Maryn Clement (F), Jada Dibbini (MF), Coryn Jesperson (MF), Hannah Borgstadt (MF) and Hazel Douglas-Trotman (MF). UCM's two transfers are goalkeeper Hannah McFarlane (Pacific) and defender Acacia Weis (Lamar University).

Series History

Ouachita Baptist: The Jennies and Tigers will meet for just the second time ever Friday evening. UCM faced OBU in the opening round of the NCAA-II Central Regional in Warrensburg last season, with Central Missouri posting a 2-0 victory.
Harding: Sunday's match against the Lady Bisons will be the inaugural meeting between the two teams.

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 309-53-28 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
Central Missouri opens MIAA play with road matches at Northeastern State Friday, Sept. 26, in Tahlequah, Okla., and Rogers State Sunday, Sept. 28, in Claremore, Okla.

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