ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — After exciting yet tough outings vs. then-No. 25 Washburn and Emporia State last weekend, Griffon Soccer looks to turn things around in this week's slate of games against Central Oklahoma and Newman. 

TICKETS + WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch all Griffon Soccer (3-5-4, 1-2-2 MIAA) home games for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network. Director of Athletic Communications Derek Zimmerman-Guyer and Jack Weisenberger will call the action this weekend, with pregame starting 20 minutes before each kickoff. Game admission is available in the "Tickets" tab. 

PINK WEEKEND
Griffon Soccer will honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month in both games this weekend, wearing pink socks and pre-wrap during each game. The goalkeepers will wear their pink kits as well.

NOTABLES

• Junior defender Katelynn Rowland notched her first career assists in the loss against Emporia State.
• Senior forward Jaden Skinner is second in the MIAA with 16 points, seven goals, 21 shots on goal and 45 total shots.
• Goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg had a whopping 15 saves on the weekend, setting a new season-high last Friday vs. Washburn with eight.
• The Griffons matched a season-high in goals scored against Emporia State with three.

10/13 - SCOUTING CENTRAL OKLAHOMA | 7 PM
The University of Central Oklahoma Bronchos head to St. Joseph with a 4-3-5 record (1-1-3, MIAA). In their last game, the fourth-place Bronchos lost to the Fort Hays State Tigers 3-0. The Bronchos are 3-1-2 on the road this season.

Who to Watch
Both sophomore midfielder Lauren Piper and senior forward Amaya Grace lead the Bronchos with four goals each. Piper has the most points for the team with 11. However, she has not scored a goal since Sept. 22. Grace has scored four goals in the five games she has started. The Bronchos also have a total of 10 different goal scorers.

Head Coach
Head Coach Mike Cook has been the coach at Central Oklahoma since 1998. He is the first and only coach that the program has had. He is 354-132-45 with UCO and is 442-154-46 in his 31-year career. In his time with the Bronchos, he has had 71 all-conference players, one MIAA title and was named MIAA Coach of the Year and Central Region Coach of the Year in 2018.

Rivalry Record Rabbit Hole
The Griffons are 2-9-1 overall against the Bronchos. They have not beaten the team since Nov. 1, 2017. In that game, the Griffons won 2-1, scoring the game-winning goal in the 84th minute.

Last Time Out
Last season, the Griffons were unsuccessful on Oct. 7, 2022, and lost 1-0. In that game, junior Harmony Turner was the solo goal scorer with an assist from Grace.

Friday's match will begin at 7 p.m. at Spratt Stadium. 

10/15 - SCOUTING NEWMAN | 1 PM
After facing Central Oklahoma, Missouri Western will stay home and play the Newman University Jets (2-9-1, 1-4 MIAA). Eleventh-place Newman hasn't won a game since Sept. 29 against Missouri Southern and is 0-6 on the road this season.

Who to Watch
The Jets have four goal-scorers this season. Sophomore midfielder Maylani Birckbichler leads the team with three goals, including two against Northwestern Oklahoma on Sept. 4. 

Head Coach
Dylan Gruntzel is in his second season with the Jets. Prior to being the head coach, Gruntzel was the assistant coach at Newman for four years. Last season, he led the Jets to a 1-15-1 season (1-9-1 MIAA).

Rivalry Record Rabbit Hole
The Griffons have only faced the Jets five total times and are 2-1-2 overall. Currently, MWSU has won the previous two.

Last Time Out
In their last outing, the Griffons won 3-2 on Oct. 9, 2022. Kaili Campbell, Brianna Davis and Elizabeth Pujado all scored

Kickoff begins at 1 p.m. at Spratt Stadium on Oct. 15.

ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON SOCCER HISTORY
Oct. 13 | Box Score
In 2019, the Griffons tied against the Nebraska Kearney Lopers after 110 minutes of double-overtime play. Goalkeeper Anna Mayer had eight saves in the contest out of the Lopers' nine shots on goal.

Oct. 15 | Box Score
The 15th of October has historical significance for Griffon Soccer. Eight years ago in 2017, the Griffons set new program records for wins and shutouts in a season when they defeated the Northeastern State RiverHawks 1-0 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Forward Cassidy Menke scored the team's lone goal at the 26th-minute mark.