MATCH 14: SBU BEARCATS (6-5-2, 5-4-2 MIAA)
at TRUMAN BULLDOGS (7-2-4, 6-1-4 MIAA)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21 • 2:00 PM
BULLDOG SOCCER PARK • KIRKSVILLE, MO

M15: at NEBRASKA-OMAHA
MAVERICKS (6-6-1, 6-4-1 MIAA)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23 • 12:00 PM
UNO SOCCER FIELD • OMAHA, NE

Game Notes

Live Stats (TSU Only)
 
BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats prepare for one of the most pivotal weeks of the season, as they hit the road to face two conference leaders in the Truman Bulldogs and Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks. The 'Cats went 0-1-1 against their opponents earlier this season, dropping a 1-0 match to the Bulldogs before earning a draw against UNO.

The 'Cats dropped a spot to seventh in the NCAA South Central Regional rankings, after a loss last week against the Central Missouri Jennies. Nevertheless, the Bearcats remain one of the highest-powered offenses in the MIAA, with 22 goals to date, second-best in the league, and 1.69 goals per game. SBU also has 18 assists on the year, just two behind Central Missouri for tops in the league.

Forward Shonee Samia looks to continue her hot streak, as the freshman has scored six goals over the past five matches. Samia is tied with Central's Alyssa Rhodes for the conference lead in goals, and ranks fifth in total points, with 12.

Sophomore Brittani Ready racked up her MIAA-leading ninth assist on the season against Missouri Western last week. Ready is averaging 0.75 assists per game, ranking her fourth in the nation.

Goalkeeper Megan Link earned her fifth win of the season, and twelveth of her career against Missouri Western. Link leads the conference in save percentage, with a .831 mark. Link's 6.40 saves per game ranks third-best in the MIAA.

THE COACHES AND THE ALL-TIME SERIES
Bearcat head coach Rob Podeyn is in his second season along the SBU sideline. Podeyn led the Bearcats to a 7-9-3 record last year after coming to SBU from Northwood University (Texas). After earning his 60th career win earlier this season, Podeyn has a career mark of 66-64-11.

Mike Cannon is in his 18th season at Truman, where he has compiled a 238-82-34 (.720) career record, the most in Bulldog soccer history, and eighth all-time in NCAA Division II

Don Klosterman is a two-time national coach of the year for Nebraska-Omaha, and has led the Mavs to four national semifinal appearances, including their 2005 NCAA Division II national championship.

Truman holds a 16-3-6 record over the Bearcats, and have taken the last three matches. SBU struggles offensively against Truman, and haven't scored a goal against TSU since 2008. The Bearcats are still searching for their first win against Nebraska-Omaha, as they have compiled an 0-5-3 record against the Mavs. UNO defeated the Bearcats on penalties in SBU's lone NCAA Tournament appearance back in 2004.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Bulldogs are riding a four-game unbeaten streak, including a dominant 3-0 win over Nebraska-Omaha. Truman boasts one of the better defenses in the nation, averaging a shutout in 61.5% of their matches, the 14th-best average in Division II. Truman's .504 save percentage ranks 16th in the nation, and is led by junior goalkeeper Jayne Grisham, the reigning MIAA Player of the Week.

Nebraska-Omaha is coming off a 3-0 win at Washburn, and take on #2 Central Missouri before hosting the Bearcats. Junior forward Hilary Horvatic leads the Maverick offense, scoring five goals on the year, third-best in the MIAA. Four different players (Bri Exstrom, Becca Swanson, Monica Bosiljevac, and Danielle Archuleta) have each scored three goals apiece. Goalkeeper Lauren Fox has had a solid year, recording a 1.15 goals against average, and four shutouts with a 6-6-1 record.