ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — The preseason is over. The Jacob Plocher Era is now.
Taking on No. 9 Bemidji State and Northern State of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) this weekend, Griffon Soccer embarks upon the 2023 season with their sixth head coach in program history at the helm. The Griffons are coming off a 5-10-4 record in 2022, coming away with a positive 3-2-4 home record. That's precisely where the Griffons will start this fall's campaign, within the friendly confines of Craig Field at Spratt Stadium against some of the best teams Division II has to offer.
Plocher is used to being among the best. He spent six successful years at NAIA institution Eastern Oregon University, where he earned four national tournament appearances and a high of No. 6 in the NAIA Poll. A CCC Coach of the Year in 2017, Plocher has his sights set on restoring prestige to the Griffon program within the Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference (MIAA). It shouldn't hurt that the Griffons also return four All-MIAA players from a season ago.
"We'll always lean on our older players and our returners," Plocher said. "It is a tough conference. There's no game that we can take for granted. We're going to focus on the game that's the next one on the schedule, and we'll continue to have that mindset and that approach, but just knowing that we need to be peaking at the right time when it comes time for conference play."
RELIABLE RETURNERS
Joined by a complete staff with Assistant Coach Colin Baker, Goalkeeper Coach David Blaise and 11 newcomers, Plocher's on-field leadership will come from his returning players, including the likes of junior Elisabeth Pujado, a 2022 All-MIAA Honorable Mention. In her first season with MWSU, Pujado led the Griffons with six goals and 12 points, starting 16 out of 17 games. Fellow honorable mention and junior goalkeeper Keeley Kroonenberg is back after an electric sophomore campaign, saving 84 shots, earning back-to-back MIAA Player of the Week awards and recording six shutouts, the second most in a single Griffon season. Kroonenberg is currently tied for fourth all-time with Lexie Martin (2014-17) in career shutouts.
Honorable mentions Elizabeth Musilek and Brianna Davis will also bolter MWSU's returning roster. Entering her junior year, Musilek played an invaluable 1,364 minutes last year, the seventh most on the team and fourth most out of all returners. Davis, a fellow junior, is second out of all returners and was fourth overall with 1,471 minutes played in 2022. Sophomore defender Nicolette Froehlich is second out of all returners, with 1,620 minutes played, coming in right behind Kroonenberg's total of 1,710 minutes.
For most older players, this is their third head coach in just three seasons. With outside noise trying to creep in, Plocher is adamant his team has its blinders on and is tunnel-visioned on what's important.
"I think they're hungry," Plocher said. "They've had some turnover, they've had some change throughout the last couple of years. They've looked back and said we feel that we're a capable team. For us as a staff, it's about bringing them together and having a culture that allows them to compete and work and get better. It's that iron sharpens iron mentality. We want it to be an enjoyable experience for them to be a part of this program."
Winning is the goal, but weaving together a connection that will catalyze future success is what Plocher looks forward to the most.
"Hopefully, we're able to come out and do some nice things, both results-wise, but even just style of play," Plocher emphasized. "As a program, it's where players are going to want to come in and be a part of because of the culture that we have, because of that sisterhood that we've been able to create with one another."
TICKETS + WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch all Griffon Soccer home games for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network. Director of Athletic Communications Derek Zimmerman-Guyer will call the action, with pregame starting 20 minutes before each kickoff. Game admission and parking tickets are available in the "Tickets" tab.
9/1 - SCOUTING NO. 9 BEMIDJI STATE | 7:30 PM
Boasting a 16-3-6 record and an NCAA Tournament Quarterfinal run in 2022, the Beavers must make up for 28 goals and 67 points that have since graduated since then. Junior midfielder Maria Stocke is the team's leading scorer, netting three scores and tallying four assists to lead all returners. Fifth-year defender Halle Peterson also buried three goals in 2022, starting all 25 games for Bemidji.
The goalkeeper spot will see someone lead the charge for the reining NSIC Champions this season. Bemidji graduated Alyssa Stumbaugh, who snagged 96 saves in 17 starts. Meanwhile, Georgiana Harber started eight games but is not listed on this season's roster. The Beavers are led by five-time NSIC Coach of the Year Jim Stone, who enters his 22nd year with a 235-129-41 record. Last year's NCAA Tournament was his first with the Beavers.
9/3 - SCOUTING NORTHERN STATE | 1:30 PM
Switching gears to the south side of the NSIC, Northern State went 9-5-5 in 2022, losing in the first round of the conference tournament. Sophomore forward Hannah Smith is NSU's primary source of offensive firepower, scoring a team-high eight goals last year. Sophomore forward Megan Fastenau is dangerous in transition, tallying four assists to lead the Wolves. Sophomore goalkeeper Alexus Townsend is back, starting all 19 games last season with a team-best 80 assists to her name.
Bob Casper enters his third season at the helm. So far, Casper is 16-11-10 with the Wolves. Counting his coaching days with Ottawa University from 2007-12, he is 66-66-17.
ON THESE DAYS IN GRIFFON SOCCER HISTORY: SEPT. 1 & SEPT. 3
Sept. 1 | Box Score | Video Recap
Back during a 17-5 season in 2017, the Griffons opened the fall guns blazing vs. Ouachita Baptist. Then-freshman Taylor Schwartzkopf led the Griffs with three goals, setting a program record in her first collegiate game. Cassidy Menke enjoyed two goals of her own, as MWSU scored four more times in the second half to seal an 8-1 victory.
Sept. 3 | Box Score | Video Recap
The Griffons started the 2017 season 2-0 thanks to another strong outing vs. Harding, carrying the momentum from their game vs. OBU. Menke scored two more goals, becoming MWSU's all-time scoring leader, a record that still stands today at 78. Thanks to a clean sheet from goalkeepers Sarah Lyle and Ally Barb, the Griffons won 3-0.
