ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Soccer hosts No. 5 Central Missouri on Friday for Senior Night before heading to Northwest Missouri on Sunday, as the Griffons MIAA playoff hopes hang in the balance.
Missouri Western (5-7-4, 3-4-2 MIAA) is coming off a successful weekend, securing a victory against Rogers State and a draw against the RiverHawks of Northeastern State.
Kaili Campbell scored the winner against the Hillcats and the go-ahead goal against Northeastern, bringing her season goal total up to six.
The four points gained from those two results puts the Griffons in seventh in the MIAA, one point ahead of Northeastern in eighth. This means the Griffons could clinch their playoff berth with a win on Friday night against the Jennies at Spratt Stadium.
10/21 - SCOUTING NO. 5 CENTRAL MISSOURI
The Jennies are undefeated on the road this year, going 5-0-2 so far. Earlier this year, the Griffons took the then ranked No. 6 Jennies (13-1-2, 7-1-1 MIAA) to the brink in September. The Griffons twice had the lead in Warrensburg, but an 87th-minute goal from Julia Kristensen denied the Griffons a result.
Kristensen leads Central Missouri in both goals and assists, with nine goals and six assists. Madilyn Hamline is second on the team with eight goals, and Caroline Cole has five assists.
The Griffons are 1-30 all time vs. the Jennies, with the lone win coming in 2018 at Spratt Stadium. Kickoff is a 7 p.m.
10/23 - SCOUTING NORTHWEST MISSOURI
The Bearcats (10-4-2, 6-3 MIAA) sit in fourth place in the conference, having already clinched their birth to the MIAA playoffs. Kaylie Rock leads NWMSU with six goals and ten assists on the season. Sophie Cissell is in second on the team with four goals, and Teagan Blackburn is in second with four assists.
The all-time series between the two rivals is hotly contested, with the Bearcats leading the rivalry, 15-9-6. In the last 10 games, the Griffons are 6-3-1 against NWMSU, with the loan draw coming earlier this season at Spratt Stadium. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
WEEKEND NOTES
ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON SOCCER: 10/21 & 10/23
10/21: The Griffons welcomed the Ichabods of Washburn University to Spratt Stadium with a statistically dominant performance in 2016, outshooting Washburn, 15-2. Cassidy Menke found the winner in the 26th minute, and the Griffons won 1-0.
10/23: The Griffons rarely play on this date, with the last time being in 2015 in a 3-0 loss to the Jennies.
