MATCH 10: SBU BEARCATS (4-3-2, 3-2-2 MIAA)
at MISSOURI SOUTHERN LIONS (3-3-2, 3-4-2 MIAA)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 7 • 7:00 PM
HAL BODON FIELD • JOPLIN, MO
M11: vs EMPORIA STATE HORNETS (0-7-2, 0-6-1 MIAA)
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 • 12:00 PM
SBU SOCCER PITCH • BOLIVAR, MO
 
GAME NOTES

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- Looking to keep pace with the MIAA leaders, the SBU Bearcats have a pivotal match against the Missouri Southern Lions. The 'Cats and Lions are currently tied for fourth in the conference standings, just two points behind second place. SBU will also host the Emporia State Hornets this weekend.

The Bearcats remain one of the highest-powered offenses in the MIAA, with 14 goals to date third-best in the league, and 1.56 goals per game. SBU also has 16 assists on the year, just one behind Central Missouri's 17 for tops in the league.

Freshman forward Shonee Samia was named MIAA Soccer Student-Athlete of the Week, after she came off the bench for 59 minutes to score a pair of goals in the Bearcats' 2-1 win over Washburn. Samia is the fourth different 'Cat to win Student-Athlete of the Week, as SBU has had someone win the award four out of the five weeks of the season.

Sophomore Brittani Ready racked up her seventh assist on the season last week, tops in the MIAA. Ready is averaging 0.88 assists per game, ranking her fourth in the nation.

Goalkeeper Megan Link earned her third win of the season, and tenth of her career against Washburn. Link leads the conference in saves per game, averaging 6.86 stops each match. Link's save percentage of .873 ranks 27th in Division II.

Ashley Creason, a forward from Lee's Summit, Mo., is currently the top goal scorer in the MIAA, with 5 scores. Along with her second assist last week, Creason's 12 points is best in the league as well.

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 65-63-11.

Alese Woolard enters her first season as the head coach at Missouri Southern after spending four seasons as an assistant coach for the Lions. Woolard has an NSCAA State and Regional Goalkeeping Diploma, as well as an NSCAA Advanced Regional diploma.

Jim Schneiderhahn is in his fifth season as head coach of Emporia State. Schneiderhahn has compiled a 8-66-3 record with the Hornets.

SBU holds a 13-9-2 record against Missouri Southern, and have won the last five matches, going back to 2007. The 'Cats have an 14-3-1 advantage over the Hornets, and haven't dropped a game to ESU since 2005.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENTS
The Lions started the conference season picking up 7 points over the first three games, but since has gone 1-2-1. Goalkeeper Randi Russell ranks in the top 50 nationally in GAA (0.761), and top 100 in save percentage (.829). Danai Noftz leads Southern with 6 points, from three goals, also a team high. The Lions pose a bit of a threat against the Bearcats; although they've only scored nine goals to date, seven have been scored in the second half. Of the 12 goals SBU has surrendered, nine have been after halftime.

Emporia earned their first point in the MIAA standings last week, with a scoreless draw against Missouri Western, but are still searching for their first win of the season. The Hornets have scored just five goals this season, from five different players. Sarah Anderson and Catie Hyde lead the team with three points (one goal, one assist each). Natalie Hoernig and Katrina Goscha split time in goal, with a combined .716 save percentage.