WARM UPS...

The Griffons open up a busy week of play this week with three games in six days playing two road non-conference games before returning home for its MIAA home opener. The Griffons open up the week with former MIAA member Truman State on Tuesday, September 17. The Bulldogs have had the Griffons number winning 11 of the 13 meetings with the other two matches being a tie. Missouri Western will then hit the road for a contest with NAIA opponent Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa. The game is scheduled for 5:00 pm on Friday, September 20. The Griffons hold a 1-0 lead in the series with their 2-0 victory a season ago. Finally the Griffons wrap up the week with their MIAA opener. The will take on the Lindenwood Lions in Spratt Stadium on Sunday, September 22. The first kick is set for 12:00 pm. The Griffons hold a 1-0 lead over the Lions after winning in overtime a season ago. 

KNOW THE OPPONENTS...

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS:

So far the move for the Bulldogs to the GLVC has been a good one as they hold a 2-1-1 record with a 2-0 record in GLVC play. The Bulldogs have beaten both Missouri-St. Louis and Maryville University 2-0 in conference action. In non-conference action the Bulldogs tied Winona State and fell 1-0 against Minnesota State-Mankato. On the season the Bulldogs have four goals with 52 shots and 25 on goal. Trisha Shoemaker leads the way with 12 shots while Sally Smith has eight. Emily Bozdeck had played in four games with three starts giving up just a .23 goals against average with a .955 save percentage. 

SERIES WITH THE BULLDOGS:

The Griffons have struggled with the Bulldogs since getting soccer back in 2005. The Griffons are 0-11-2 against the Bulldogs. The Griffons are 0-3 when they play the Bulldogs in September and 0-2 on the road in September. This marks the first meeting between the two schools since TSU moved to the GLVC this season. 

ABOUT THE YELLOW JACKETS:

Once again Graceland has opened the season on a roll winning six of the first seven games. They have five shutouts in those six victories which included its first four victories. Their only loss came against 32 Olivet Nazarene University 1-0. They have one game this week against Park University before taking on the Griffons. Graceland had 18 goals on the season with 130 shots and 63 on goal. Stephanie D'Cruz leads the way with six goals in seven games played while Courtney Codilla and Sarahi Ortiz Casillas both have three goals. Stefany Castano Cardoza is 4-0 with 11 saves while Maria Cortez Ramos is 1-0 in net. 

SERIES WITH GRACELAND:

The Griffons won the only meeting with the Yellow Jackets last season by a score of 2-0 on September 9, 2012 in St. Joseph. Katie Kempf scored both goals for the Griffons in the victory. Graceland is ranked #13 this week in the NAIA national poll and last season they were ranked #16 when they Griffons won. 

ABOUT LINDENWOOD:

The Lions have played better this season winning three of its first five games. The Lions have picked up victories over Northwestern Oklahoma, Illinois-Springfield and Sioux Falls. The Lions fell to Missouri-St. Louis and Southwest Minnesota State. This season the Lions have 84 shots with 44 being on goal. They have 13 goals with Kat Roe, Danielle Torry and Bailey Cody all getting three. Davah Bruce lead the way with four assists. In goal Bailey Tracy has a 3-2 record giving up just five goals and making 20 saves. 

SERIES WITH LINDENWOOD:

The Griffons won the only meeting with the Lions. Last season on September 16, 2012 the Griffons came away with a 2-1 overtime victory. Katie Kempf got an assist on the goal to tie the game up in the second half and then got an unassisted goal in overtime giving MWSU the victory. 

Record in September: 

When the Griffons play in September they are 15-47-6 overall. The Griffons are 9-19-4 at home, 4-25-1 on the road and 2-3-1 on a neutral field. 

Under Coach Edwards in September:

The Griffons are 8-10 in September in the two years that head coach Chad Edwards has been at MWSU. The Griffons are 3-5 at home, 4-5 on the road and 1-0 on a neutral field. Last season the Griffons went 3-5 in September and 2-3 at home and 1-2 on the road. This season the Griffons are 2-2 in September going 1-1 on the road and 1-1 at home. 

Non-Conference Record:

The Griffons are 11-22-3 in non-conference games. MWSU is 6-7-1 at home, 2-10-1 on the road and 3-5-1 on a neutral field. The Griffons are 5-6 in non-conference games under Edwards. They are 3-2 at home, 1-4 on the road and 1-0 on a neutral field. Last season the Griffons were 2-1 at home with victories against East Central and Graceland and 0-1 on the road. The Griffons fell at home against Southwestern Oklahoma State and on the road against William Jewell. 

Breaking Records:

In the Griffons 1-0 victory over the Wayne State Wildcats they set a team record for shots in a game with 29 and shots on goal with 14. The old records were set last season on September 2, 2012 against East Central University. The Griffons had 25 shots with 12 on goal in that contest. MWSU also had 12 shots on goal against East Central on September 2, 2007. Tara Russell set a new Griffon record for shots in a game with seven, breaking the old record of six which was held by numerous Griffons.

UP NEXT:

The Griffons return to action next week when they take on rival Northwest Missouri State twice in four days. The two teams play a non-conference match on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:00 pm in Spratt Stadium. On Friday, September 27 the two teams will play thier MIAA contest at 4:00 pm in Maryville, Mo.