WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Mikayla Ernst scored four goals,
Alexandra Hofbauer added two goals, and
Coryn Jespersen tallied a goal, leading No. 15-ranked Central Missouri Jennies Soccer to a 7-2 victory over the Harding University Lady Bisons on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 21, at the South Recreation Complex.
The Jennies (3-2-1) will open MIAA play with a road match at Northeastern State (5-1) on Friday, Sept. 26, in Tahlequah, Okla.
With her four goals, Ernst tied the UCM single-match record. Former Jennies Jada Scott (vs. Missouri Western in 2016) and Sarah Bourn (vs. Southwest Baptist in 1995) also netted four goals in a match.
A junior forward from Raymore, Mo., Ernst opened Central Missouri's scoring with a goal in the ninth minute off an assist from
Izzy Joyce before netting her second goal of the match in the 18th minute on a penalty kick.
Seven minutes later, in the 25th minute, she completed the hat-trick with her third goal.
Jespersen made it 4-0, Jennies, with her first goal of 2025 in the 50th minute via Joyce's second assist of the contest, prior to Ernst scoring her fourth goal of the match and team-high eighth goal of the season off a
Laney Reishus assist in the 58th minute.
The Lady Bisons (2-3-1) cut the UCM lead to 5-1 with a goal in the 79th minute, but the Jennies answered immediately, as Hofbauer scored back-to-back goals off consecutive assists from
Maryn Clement in the 87th minute, pushing the Central Missouri advantage to 7-1.
Harding had a goal in the 90th minute for the final 7-2 margin.
For the match, the Jennies outshot the Lady Bisons, 16-10, including a 12-6 advantage in shots on goal.
UCM goalkeeper
Kristen Wright (3-2-1) earned the victory between the posts after giving up two goals while making four saves in 90 minutes.
Regan Thompson and Mykala Ulrich each tallied goals, leading Harding.
