MATCH 9: SBU BEARCATS (5-4-1, 3-4) at MISSOURI WESTERN GRIFFONS (4-8, 2-6)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8 • 7:00 PM
SPRATT STADIUM • ST. JOSEPH, MO

MATCH 10: SBU BEARCATS (5-4-1, 3-4) at TRUMAN BULLDOGS (8-2-2, 7-1)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 • 11:30 AM
TRUMAN SOCCER PITCH • KIRKSVILLE, MO

SBU NOTES | MWSU NOTES | TSU NOTES

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -- The Bearcats head out on a pair of road games this week, trying to end a three-game losing streak in which SBU's high-powered offense has seemingly been shut down. The Bearcats have been shut out in their previous two games against the MIAA's top two teams. SBU fowards Jaymye Ross and Taylor Vick still remain among the conference assist leaders, with three assists apiece this season, but the leading goal scorer for the Bearcats, Shannon Roher, is out due to injury. As a team, SBU ranks third in the MIAA in shots (15.3/game), points (4.7/game), and goals (1.8/game).

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Rob Podeyn is in his first season as Bearcat head coach (57-53-8 in seven years total), after leading the Northwood University (Texas) program since 2006, where he won two conference championships.
   
Griffon head coach Jeff Hanson is entering his fourth season at Missouri Western. Hanson led the Griffons to the program's best finish in its young history in 2007, earning a 4-15 record, and has already matched that win total in 2009. Last season, the 'Cats and Griffons split the home-and-home series, with each team winning on the road. SBU leads the all time series, 5-3.
   
Mike Cannon is entering his 17th season with the Truman Bulldogs, where he is the program's winningest head coach with a record of 224-78-29. Last season, Cannon became the ninth coach in Division II history to win 200 matches; later that year, Truman hosted a national quarterfinal game, a loss to national champion Seattle Pacific. The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with SBU, 15-3-5.

SCOUTING THE GRIFFONS & BULLDOGS
Missouri Western is trying to bust out of a three-game slump, but had shut out two regionally ranked teams earlier this season, in Washburn and Northwest Missouri State. The Griffons are led by a duo of attackers, freshman forward Abby Widrig and junior midfielder Jessica Martin. Martin is currently fourth in the MIAA in goals scored (5), while she and Widrig both are third in assists (3), and both are among the top ten in points this season.

Olivia Hays heads up the Bulldog attack this year, with eight goals so far this season, most in the MIAA. Sophomore goalkeeper Jayne Grisham is the most recent MIAA Defensive Player of the Week, and has 6 shutouts and a goals against average of 0.66.