MATCH 16: SBU BEARCATS (6-7-2, 5-6-2 MIAA)
vs NORTHWEST MISSOURI
STATE BEARCATS (2-9-4, 2-8-3 MIAA)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28 • 3:00 PM
SBU SOCCER PITCH • BOLIVAR, MO

Game Notes

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- After a pair of tough losses last week, the SBU Bearcats look to pick up some momentum over the final two weeks of the season, as they host the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats.

After being held scoreless for her past six games, freshman forward Ashley Creason scored a pair of goals in the loss against Nebraska-Omaha. Creason has totaled seven goals on the year, most in the MIAA.

Forward Shonee Samia looks to regain her form from earlier this season, in which Samia scored six goals over four games. Samia picked up her first career assist last week against Nebraska-Omaha, but has been kept from scoring for three games. Samia ranks fifth in the conference in points, with 13, and second in goals scored, with six.

Sophomore Brittani Ready was kept from earning an assist during last week, the first full week since mid-September that Ready didn't earn a point. Still, Ready ranks tenth in Division II with nine assists, and is tops in the MIAA. Ready is just three assists away from tying SBU's single-season assists record, set by Vanessa Toll, back in 2003.

Goalkeeper Megan Link will work to recover from the pair of losses last week that raised her goals allowed average nearly half a goal (1.92 GAA). Northwest Missouri comes in at the perfect time for Link, who has allowed just one goal over 127 minutes (0.71 GAA) over her career against the green Bearcats. Link continues to climb a number of all-time lists, as her seven shutouts rank fourth all-time for SBU. During her nearly two seasons in Bolivar, Link has recorded a 1.52 GAA, which ranks fifth-best all-time.

Midfielders Brenna Lacaillade and Kelly Isaac have been a strong offensive support for the Bearcats this season. Isaac, a junior from Wales, has nine points on the year, fourth-most on the team, while Lacaillade has put in two goals on the year. Both players have a pair of game-winning goals, most on the team.

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 66-66-11.

Tracy Hoza has been the head coach of Northwest Missouri State's soccer program since 2003. Hoza led the team to a school-record 11 wins last season, and placed fifth in the MIAA, their best finish since 2001. The three best records in the program's 11-year history have come during Hoza's tenure, with ten wins in 2008, and nine in 2006.

SBU holds a 14-7 record against Northwest Missouri, after a thrilling come-from-behind victory in Maryville earlier this year. The purple Bearcats have won the last two meetings, and seven of the last nine.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
Northwest Missouri is trying to dig out of a three-game winless streak, and a 1-6-2 record over their last nine matches. The Bearcats are led on offense by a pair of forwards, sophomore Amanda Bundrant and freshman Emilee Davidson. The duo lead the team with three goals apiece, while junior Kelly Obley has two scores on the year. Five other Bearcats have hit the back of the net this season, one of which, Anna Calgaard, leads the team with three assists.

Defensively, Northwest goalkeeper Kelsey Adams has posted a .771 save percentage and 1.65 GAA, ranking her among the top 150 Division II goalkeepers. In their last match, Adams allowed thre goals while making eight saves against SBU, the highest number of goals she has allowed in a game to date.