ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Soccer hosts two massive games at Spratt Stadium this Friday and Sunday with a chance to grab onto an MIAA playoff spot.
Eight teams qualify for the MIAA playoffs. The Griffons (4-7-3, MIAA 2-4-1) currently sit in ninth. They just so happen to host the team in eighth and the team in seventh this weekend.
Wins over both of those teams would see the Griffons vault up to at least seventh, and pending other results, this could catapult them all the way up into a tie for fourth.
Last time out, the Griffons found their winning ways once again, downing Newman 3-2 on Sunday.
Kaili Campbell leveled the game at 1-1 after a quick Newman goal had made it 1-0. Another Newman goal saw the score be 2-1 at halftime, but a quick goal in the 48th minute from
Brianna Davis made things all square once again. In the 84th minute,
Elisabeth Pujado netted the winner, giving the Griffons real playoff life again and breaking the four-game losing skid.
10/14 - SCOUTING ROGERS STATE
The Hillcats (4-4-6, 1-2-4 MIAA) have had a fairly decent season, finding themselves in the final playoff spot going into the second to last weekend of play. Last time they took the field, they found a 1-1 draw with Fort Hays State.
Rogers State is lead by Maggie Brown, a senior midfielder who has netted four times. Sophomore defender Ashton Shepperson has two assists to lead the Hillcats. Rogers State is averaging 1.07 goals per game.
The Griffons and the Hillcats have only matched up twice in the history of both schools, with both teams winning one. The road team has won both games, with the last game resulting in a 2-0 win for the Griffons last yaer.
10/16 - SCOUTING NORTHEASTERN STATE
The RiverHawks (7-3-2, 4-2-1 MIAA) have positioned themselves well, slotting into seventh in the MIAA standings going into the weekend. They have nine points, coming from wins over Nebraska-Kearney and Missouri Southern and draws with Emporia, Fort Hays and Washburn.
Myka Heimbach and Payton Lieb lead the RiverHawks with four goals each. Hannah Settler and Sydney Taylor both have three assists. Northeastern is outscoring it's opponents 17-12.
The Griffons have struggled agaisnt NSU, with an overall record of 3-7. Two of the three wins MWSU has over the RiverHawks have come at Spratt Stadium, however. The last win for the Griffons in the series was in 2018 when the Griffons won 2-0 on Alumni Night at Spratt.
WEEKEND NOTABLES
- Pujado maintained her spot at the top of the goal scoring list, netting her fifth of the year against Newman.
- Campbell joined Sofia Zwick with two assists on the year.
- Sophomore Keeley Kroonenberg has made 65 saves this season, with a save percentage of 77 percent.
- Six Griffons have now played 1,000 minutes this season, with Davis the most recent to reach that mark.
- The Griffons have brought their conference goal total up to five.
THIS WEEKEND IN GRIFFON SOCCER
On Oct. 16, 2016, the Griffons hosted Northeastern State. The RiverHawks were no. 21 in the country at the time, but the Griffons used a 70th minute Emily Kemp goal to fly past Northeastern. The Griffons dominated every facet of that game, outshooting the RiverHawks 13-6.
PINK WEEK IS HERE
In conjunction with Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Griffon Athletic Department is helping raise awareness by giving out Pink Week shirts at all Griffon home events this weekend. Fans should be on the lookout for these shirts whenever they enter the MWSU Fieldhouse or Spratt Stadium.
