ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — Griffon Soccer's young defensive backline has found themselves a new identity under first-year Head Coach Jacob Plocher.
 
POSITION OUTLOOK
Losing only one defender to graduation last season, most of the defensive room returned. With the addition of only two freshmen, nine of the 11 defenders are familiar faces. Not only that, but none of the returning defensive players will be graduating in the spring. With that in mind, the Griffons created strong comradery heading into this season.
 
"We've got a good mix of some experience, some chemistry," Plocher said. "We also have that youth movement of a handful of younger players who are going to be able to continue to grow and continue to build chemistry with one another."
 
#3 - KATELYNN ROWLAND - JUNIOR 
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 18/18
Minutes: 1,208:00
Goals: 1 (T-5th)
Assists: 2 (T-2nd)
Points: 4 (T-5th)
Hometown: Aurora, Colo.
High school: Cherokee Trail HS
Height: 5-5
3rd season at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Mom
 
Part of the group of players with experience, junior Katelynn Rowland has been a consistent player on and off the field for the Griffons. In the classroom, she has received awards for her achievements, making the MIAA Academic Honor Roll in 2022 and the MIAA Newcomer Academic Honor Roll in 2021-22. 
 
On the field, Plocher praised Rowland for her consistency, adding that she is a unifier.
 
"She's the mom of the backline," Plocher said. "She's intelligent. She's organized and trying to help guide things. She is someone that's reliable as well."

Rowland has contributed well, starting in all 18 games with four points to her name. Plocher looks to continue to rely on the upperclassmen for his defensive squad.
 
#4 - EMMA WEIGHTMAN - SOPHOMORE
2023 Stats
Games played/started: 5/0
Minutes: 80:00
Hometown: Kearney, Mo.
High school: Kearney HS
Height: 5-4
2nd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Unique
 
In her second year as a Griffon, Emma Weightman looks to grow and continue to improve off of her freshman campaign. Wieghtman saw action in three games last season. 
 
When asked about her impact on the field, the head coach had nothing but praise for the sophomore.
 
"She's one that keeps the mood light," Plocher said. "She's got a positive attitude about things. Coming back this summer you can tell that she bought in and she worked hard."
 
Weightman has played in five of the Griffons' 18 games this season and looks to add more to her sophomore year in 2023.
 
#6 - LILY HODGE - FRESHMAN
Hometown: Lincoln, Neb.
High school: Pius X HS
Height: 5-6
1st year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Attentive
 
Coming in from just hours away in Lincoln, Nebraska, Hodge won six straight state cup championships in high school.  Hodge will be redshirting this season. Even though she won't be seeing the field, Plocher adds that she is making light of her circumstances and soaking it all.
 
"She's been engaged. She has emulated the team well. We're excited to get her back this winter and this spring to be able to get her Griffon career going."
 
Although Griffon fans will have to wait to see her debut, Hodge is gaining all the knowledge she can before she takes the field in the spring.
 
#7 - NICOLETTA FROELICH - SOPHOMORE
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 18/18
Minutes: 1,486:00 
Assists: 1 (T-3rd)
Hometown: Bakersfield, Calif.
High School: Liberty HS
Height: 5-8
2nd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Beast
 
Coming off of an impressive freshman campaign, sophomore Nicoletta Froelich has continued to grow as a player. Playing and starting all 18 games for the Griffons, Froelich made her presence known from the start. Plocher recognized her presence in the field.
 
"She's a beast," said Plocher when asked to describe Froelich's style of play. "She's a bruiser, and she's smart. We're excited to see where she can take her game this coming fall."
 
Not only can she provide strength on the backline, Froelich also has contributed in the offensive zone as well. She notched her first-ever assist in a Griffon uniform against Nebraska-Kearney on Oct. 1.
 
#9 - LAUREN NYLUND - JUNIOR
2023 Dtats (team rank)
Games played/started: 18/18
Minutes: 1,606:00
Assists: 3 (T-1st)
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas.
High school: Tom C. Clark HS
Height: 5-9
3rd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Rock
 
Junior Lauren Nylund's role has grown in her third year at Missouri Western. Her growth has been seen by her teammates as Nylund was voted as one of the team captains for this 2023 season. 
 
"She's been consistent, definitely a leader of our backline," Plocher said. "I think she'll be able to help allow the backline to take the steps necessary for us to improve on some of the defensive categories that we had success with last year."
 
Nylund was voted MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week in the second week of the season and was recently named to the All-MIAA Third Team this season after leading MWSU with three assists.

#11 - LIBBY SKINNER - SOPHOMORE
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 3/0
Minutes: 47:00
Hometown: Kent, England
High school: Chobham Academy 
Height: 5-7
2nd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Versatility
 
All the way from across the pond, sophomore Libby Skinner is an all-round player that the Griffons hope to utilize even more.
 
"She's kind of making a transition and getting some versatility with being a defender as well," Plocher said.
 
Even though she is listed as a defender, Plocher feels Skinner can be moved around, noting her skill set and her powerful shot.
 
"She has a rocket of a left foot when she makes contact. It's fun to watch."
 
#15 - BROOKLYN BUTTOLPH - SOPHOMORE
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 18/17 
Minutes: 1,189:00
Hometown: West Des Moines, Iowa.
High school: Valley HS
Height: 5-5
2nd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Smart
 
Brooklyn Buttolph got her share of time in her Griffon debut. However, since then, she has become a prominent starter. She started 17 out of 18 games this regular season, racking up 1,189 minutes. Plocher echoed her growth from year one to this season.
 
"She's taken a lot of strides," Plocher said. "She's an extremely hard worker and she is going to battle until the end."
 
#19 - ELIZABETH MUSILEK - JUNIOR
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 18/17
Minutes: 1,423:00
Assists: 1 (T-3rd)
Hometown: Omaha, Neb.
High school: Marian HS
Height: 5-4
3rd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Dynamic
 
One of the core returners this season, Musilek adds a strong veteran presence to this young defensive unit. In 2022, Musilek earned All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors as well as MIAA Defensive Athlete of the Week honors back in September of last year. Now, Musilek is a two-time all-conference honorable mention, earning her second postseason award.
 
Plocher has enjoyed using her versatility to get Musilek involved in the attack more than in the past.
 
"She brings that dynamic presence on that outside back roll," Plocher said. "I think she can take her game to the next level with assists and with some hopefully potential goals."
 
#21 - MADELINE PEARL - JUNIOR
2023 Stats
Games played/started: 1/0 
Minutes: 9:00
Hometown: Corpus Christi, Texas.
High school: Calallen HS
Height: 5-9
3rd year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Evolution
 
Junior Madeline Pearl didn't see the field in 2022, but Plocher hopes to see more out of her this season. When asked about her growth, Plocher had many positive things to say.
 
"She's improved quite a bit with her play, her decision making and even just her confidence," Plocher said. 
 
Pearl has grown already in 2023. Plocher has noted that she has made progress and looks forward to seeing her continue her career as Griffon.
 
"I think she really kind of started to come out of her shell this spring and it was nice to see."
 
#25 - GRACE APGAR - FRESHMAN 
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 9/1
Minutes: 316:00
Hometown: Cary, Ill.
High school: Cary-Grove HS
Height: 5-6
1st year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Feisty
 
Although fresh on campus at Missouri Western, Grace Apgar has already turned the heads of the coaching staff.
 
"She's a little bit smaller in stature but she plays big," Plocher said. "She's quick. She has some versatility as well to kind of be a forward if needed. Anywhere along the backline she'll have the opportunity to contribute."
 
In high school, Apgar had all-sectional, all-conference and all-conference academic honors. She looks to continue to grow as a player and a student here at Missouri Western.
 
#30 - RIANE SHAFFER-BYERS - FRESHMAN
2023 Stats (team rank)
Games played/started: 1/0
Minutes: 20:00
Hometown: St. Joseph, Mo.
High school: Central HS
Height: 5-4
1st year at MWSU
Coach Plocher word association: Moldable
 
A local product, Riane Shaffer-Byers stayed home for her first year of college. After playing her high school career just eight minutes from campus at Central High Schi;;, Shaffer-Byers received many athletic nods, such as being named to the all-city team and the all-district honorable mention squad in 2020 and claiming spots on the all-conference team, all-district second-team selection and the all-city team in 2021. 
 
"She's a hard worker and a great teammate," Plocher said. "She's that moldable clay for us right now. She has shined, and she's done some really nice things."
 
POSITION PROLOGUE
Overall, the Griffon backline has contributed to three shutouts this season.  Thanks to a loaded depth chart full of iron women, Plocher utilized multiple players on the field to create overall chemistry.
 
"They have to be comfortable playing with multiple people and playing at a high level," Plocher said. "To me, it's just about forming that chemistry. It's not just a certain four. It's got to be everybody."