ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — After getting their first win of the season and the first win in the Jacob Plocher era last weekend, the Griffons (1-2-1, 0-0 MIAA) hit the road again to face conference opponents in non-conference matchups, squaring up against rivals Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Southern. 
 
WHERE TO WATCH
Fans can watch this weekend's slate of games for a subscription fee on the MIAA Network.
 
9/15 - NORTHWEST MISSOURI STATE | 3 PM
The Bearcats (2-1-1, 0-0 MIAA) are coming off a 4-0 win against the Sioux Falls Tigers, where the team had 33 shots on goal. Senior forward Kaylie Rock, junior forward Adell Gore and freshman midfielder Ximena Arnau each lead the team with two goals apiece for the Bearcats. Gore earned MIAA Offensive Player of the Week thanks to two goals, two assists and nine overall shots.

The Bearcats have seen two goalkeepers take up the majority of minutes played. In 164 minutes, sophomore Lily Ellis has six saves to four goals allowed, holding a 0-1 record. Freshman Leyah Scott has played just over 184 minutes, giving up just one goal compared to four saves with a 2-0 record to boot.
 
All-time, the Griffons are 9-16-6, with the last match taking place last season on Oct. 22, 2022. In that match, the Bearcats beat the Griffons 1-0. The last time the Griffons won against the Bearcats was back on Sept. 22, 2019, in a 2-0 decision.
 
The Griffons will face the Bearcats at 3 p.m. in Maryville, Missouri, on the Bearcat Pitch.
 
9/17 - MISSOURI SOUTHERN | 2 PM
The Lions of Missouri Southern (0-3-1, 0-0 MIAA) have yet to win a single game this season. In their most recent match, the team only managed to score once when they lost 3-1 to Missouri S&T (1-0-2, 0-0 GLVC). The Griffons are 11-12-3 all-time against the Lions. 
 
In search of their first win of the season, second-year head coach Sadé Bosewell and her team will host the Griffons for the first time since Sept. 18, 2022. In that matchup, the Lions went scoreless while the Griffons snuck by one goal off the foot of Kali Campbell in the 78th, giving MWSU the win 1-0. Senior midfielder Jori Hays leads the team with three points, scoring one goal and dishing one assist. Fellow senior midfielder Maya Greenquist are tied with junior defender Jordan Bell with one goal apiece.

Senior goalkeeper Lilly Doneghue is 3-0 when starting this season, notching 10 saves and giving up nine goals in 270 minutes. Junior Angel Chase is 0-0-1, playing just one full game with two saves and one goal allowed.
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The two teams face off at 2 p.m. on Hal Bolden Field in Joplin, Missouri.
 
NOTABLES

• MWSU's win against William Jewell is the first win for head coach Jacob Plocher and is MWSU's first against the Cardinals.
• Senior forward Jaden Skinner, junior forward Elisabeth Pujado and freshman forward Kendall Knisley were the three players to score for the Griffons this past weekend.
• Junior Keeley Kroonenberg saved three shots out of three attempts against William Jewell on Sunday, marking her seventh shutout as a Griffon.

ON THESE DAYS IN GRIFFON SOCCER HISTORY
Sept. 15 | Read Article
On September 15, 2021, it was announced Missouri Western had been ranked No. 13 nationally in the Division II United Coaches polls. Having been previously ranked No. 24, the ranking was the highest in program history. The ranking came after having a 3-0-1 start to their season. The Griffons would go on to finish 9-8-2. 
 
Sept. 17 | Box Score
On this day in 2021, the Griffons played a familiar foe in the Missouri Southern Lions. Senior goalkeeper Anna Mayer had 11 saves. The goal scorers were then-sophomores Jaden Skinner and Lauren Street in the 33rd and 38th minutes of the game. Current Lion player Maya Greenquist, who was only a sophomore, was one of the goal scorers for Missouri Southern as well. Although both teams had multiple opportunities to win in overtime, the game ended in a draw.