MATCH 3: SBU BEARCATS (1-1) at EMPORIA STATE HORNETS (0-1-1)
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 • 4:00 PM
ESU PITCH • EMPORIA, KS

MATCH 4: SBU BEARCATS at CENTRAL MISSOURI JENNIES (2-0)
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 • 7:00 PM
JENNIES FIELD • WARRENSBURG, MO
Live stats: via UCM

Game notes: SBU | ESU | UCM

BOLIVAR, Mo. -- The SBU Bearcats have gotten off to a solid start in 2010, upsetting the nationally ranked Quincy Lady Hawks before falling on the road to then #10/now #5 Metro State. The 'Cats were rewarded at the end of the week with a #6 ranking in the South Central region, which they will carry into the opening week of MIAA play, against Emporia State and Central Missouri.

Freshman midfielder Brenna Lacaillade scored her first collegiate goal against the Lady Hawks last week, with a shot from 25 yards out to put SBU in front. Lacaillade has taken just two shots over the first two games, but fellow freshman Ashley Creason has taken charge of the offense, firing five of the Bearcats 11 shots against Metro State.

Megan Link returned to goal in the season opener after finishing her freshman year with a 7-3-2 record and four shutouts. Link notched her fifth clean sheet against the Lady Hawks, after facing 16 shots and making eight saves, which helped her to earn co-MIAA Player of the Week honors.
   
Challenging Link for the starting keeper spot, is freshman Paige Hemphill. Hemphill got the nod against the Roadrunners last week, making seven saves while taking the loss.

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), where he captured two conference titles over three years. After earning his 60th career win last week, Podeyn has a career mark of 60-62-10.

Jim Schneiderhahn is 8-67-4 in his fifth year at Emporia, and 47-111-10 over his career. He took the head coach position at Emporia after serving as an assistant coach at Tulane University. Previously, he was the head coach at Benedictine from 2000-04.

Head coach Lewis Theobald enters his fourth season as the head coach at UCM, where he has compiled a 43-13-8 record. A 1999 graduate of Kansas, Theobald was an assistant at Division I Indiana State, where he was the lead recruiter, before going to Central Missouri.

SCOUTING THE HORNETS AND JENNIES
The ESU Hornets are still searching for their first victory of the year, after a scoreless draw against Angelo State, and a 2-0 loss to East Central. Junior midfielder Jessica Decker leads the team with six shots, five of which have been on goal. Freshman Hannah Carlson and sophomore Ashley Hill also look to be offensive threats, but have yet to break through.

Emporia has gone with a freshman in goal in their first two games, in St. Louis native Natalie Hoernig. Hoernig has logged 200 minutes in goal thus far, allowing just two goals over that time. She earned her first collegiate shutout in the tie against Angelo State, where she made ten saves.

Central Missouri was close to being the third ranked team the Bearcats would face to start the season, as the Jennies received votes in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Poll.

The Jennies have scored five goals this season, all by different players. Juniors Cara Hennahane and Katie O'Keefe, sophomores Kayla Shain (who was nominated for MIAA Player of the week), and Jenna Stones, along with freshnam Carly Stanley have scored one goal apiece.