ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Soccer returns to Spratt Stadium this Friday as the Griffons take on the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State and Sunday vs. Augustana in the first home stand of the Leah Stringer era. 

The Griffons last took the field in Texas, falling to St. Mary's University in San Antonio. That game saw the Griffons get on the score sheet for the first time all season, with junior forward Jaden Skinner finding the back of the net in the seventh minute of the game. The transfer from CSU Bakersfield will lead the line for the Griffons alongside senior Kaili Campbell. The two forwards were the leading scorers for the Griffons last season, with the deadly duo combining for 13 goals.

GAME NOTES

• Sophomore keeper Keeley Kroonenberg was between the sticks for the Griffons in the first two games of the season. The transfer from Colorado Christian will hope to cement her starting spot over the next few weeks as conferences play looms on the horizon.
• Kroonenberg saved four of the seven shots on target against St. Mary's. 
• Senior midfielder Evelyn Daly and sophomore midfielder Lauren Nylund were shown a yellow card each against St. Mary's.
• Stringer started five at the back last week, allowing for her players to be aggressive and attack the wings. Over the last three months Stringer has made a point of implementing a more possession based setup. After two difficult games in Texas, the focus will be on how Stringer lines her Griffons up this weekend. 
• Stringer played four players for 90 minutes, with another five playing more than 70. Those players that play for extended periods of the game for the majority of the season will look to continue to develop chemistry and mesh together as a unit. 
• The first and only time the Griffons took on the Mustangs, MWSU came away with a 1-0 win on Sept. 12 of 2021. That game took place at Southwest Minnesota State and was decided by an Eszter Toth goal in extra time.
• The Griffons have played Augustana twice and have fallen both times. The last meeting was in 2018, where the Griffons lost a tight 1-0 game. The first matchup in 2014 resulted in a 2-0 finish for the Vikings. 

MORE DRAWS POSSIBLE THIS SEASON
A major rule change for the NCAA soccer season this upcoming year is the removal of extra time for regular season games. Instead, games will finish in a draw if the score is tied at the end of regulation. This is a change to the rule that previously said a draw would only occur if the teams were tied at the end of extra time. 

THIS WEEKEND IN GRIFFON SOCCER
In 2016, the Griffons started their campaign in a 4-3 extra time thriller against Harding State in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. The Griffons scored a late equalizing goal in the 86th minute by way of Bridget Blessie from the penalty spot, and Sarah Blakley scored a header in the 100th minute to secure the win for the Griffons.