EMPORIA, Kan. - The No. 15 Missouri Western soccer team (14-0-3, 9-0-2 MIAA) played to a 1-1 draw against Emporia State (5-7-3, 3-5-2 MIAA) after the Hornets scored an equalizer in the final minute of the match at the ESU Pitch. MWSU had its shutout streak broken but remains undefeated and controls its postseason destiny.
"At the end of the day, that's why you've gotta play 90 minutes, not 89," said head coach
Jacob Plocher postgame. "I hope that they realize that now, and to be honest, it's a matter of how we respond on Sunday. We are still in the driver's seat and need to go out and perform and execute on Sunday."
In the seventh minute of the match, the Hornets committed a handball, resulting in a penalty kick opportunity for senior
Lauren Nylund. Nylund had successfully converted four penalty kicks before this match, but her attempt in this instance deflected off the post, leaving the score at 0-0.
In the 36th minute, the Griffons broke the stalemate after
Aidyn Woodall chipped in her fourth goal of the season, assisted by a well-placed pass from senior
Katelynn Rowland. MWSU finished the half with a 7-5 shot advantage, including five shots on goal.
The second half was as even as it could be, with each team firing off six shots and continually trading possessions for the entire 45 minutes. In the 90th minute, Emporia State's Hadlie Lowe (4) found the equalizer to force a 1-1 draw.
Western outshot Emporia 13-11 and forced three corners.
Corinne Stewart and
Kendall Knisley led the offense with three shots each.
Senior Keely Kroonenberg (12-0-3) recorded a no-decision in her 15th start of the season. The Highlands Ranch, Colorado, native made five saves after 90 minutes of action. Additionally, Rowland,
Annie McDevitt,
Nicoletta Froehlich, Nylund and
Brookelyn Buttolph all played the full 90 minutes.
Missouri Western will finish the regular season on the road this Sunday against Washburn (10-3-2, 7-1-1 MIAA) at 1:00 p.m. from Yager Stadium in Topeka, Kansas. If Washburn ties with Northwest tonight, the Griffons will secure at least a share of the MIAA title. However, if they lose, MWSU will win the championship outright.
