ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -The Missouri Western soccer team (5-0-1) continued its historic start to the season with a 1-0 victory over the Missouri S&T Miners (1-3-0) on Thursday night, concluding its non-conference schedule undefeated.
 
"They're not always pretty, so to be able to grind out a victory is nice," commented head coach Jacob Plocher following the win. "We made it a little harder on ourselves missing two PKs, but they got the job done at the end of the day."
 
Missouri Western fired off eight shots (four on goal) and held Missouri S&T to zero shots in the first 45 minutes of action. Goalkeeper Anastasia Barcom made some impressive saves, including stopping a penalty kick chance from senior Lauren Nylund in the 13th minute and punching away another chance from Kendall Knisley in the 34th minute.
 
In the second half, Western quickly found the game-winner when Aidyn Woodall scored her second goal of the season in the 50th minute. This goal was set up by a well-placed through ball from Knisley, who notched her second assist of the season.
 
Senior Keeley Kroonenberg (4-0-1) tallied a save and collected the win in her fifth start of the season. Fellow senior Sophie Wellinghoff, closed the show in the goal after entering for the final 17 minutes of play.
 
Katelynn Rowland, Annie McDevitt and Brookelyn Buttolph anchored the Griffons' defense that held the Miners to only three shots (one on goal). The trio did not exit the field once for the entire 90-minutes of competition.
 
The Griffons will look to carry their momentum into next week's conference opener against rival Northwest Missouri State. Kickoff against the Bearcats will take place at Spratt Stadium next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.