ST. JOSEPH, Mo. -The Missouri Western soccer team will travel north this Friday and Saturday to kick off the 2024 season against Bemidji State and Northern State. 
 
The 20th year of Griffon soccer will begin against the Beavers on Friday at 4:00 p.m. from the BSU Soccer Complex in Bemidji, Minnesota. Sunday's match against the Wolves will take place at the Athletic & Recreation Fields in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Both contents will be free and available to watch on the NSIC Network.
 
HISTORY AGAINST BEMIDJI STATE
The Griffons are 1-3-1 against the Beavers dating back to 2013. Missouri Western secured their only series win in 2013 after Bridget Blessie scored the game-winning goal in the 95th minute. Last season, the two central region teams played to a 1-1 draw at Spratt Stadium.
 
HISTORY AGAINST NORTHERN STATE
Missouri Western and Northern State are currently tied at 1-1 all-time. In their first meeting in 2017, MWSU won the match 3-0 with goals from Ashley Mathis, Cassidy Menke and Madeline Cowell in Aberdeen. Last season, the Wolves leveled the series with a 1-0 victory in St. Joseph.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
The Griffons will participate in six non-conference matches this season. After their road trip this weekend, MWSU will host William Jewell at Spratt Stadium on Thursday, September 12. Non-conference play will conclude at home, as Western will host Sioux Falls, Rockhurst and Missouri S&T.
 
CONFERENCE OUTLOOK
MWSU will open conference play with two home matches against Northwest Missouri State on September 25 and Rogers State on September 27. They will host four more MIAA games at home against Northeastern State, No. 21 Central Missouri, Pittsburg State (the first meeting between the two schools) and Missouri Southern.
 
Western will hit the road for the first time in MIAA play on October 4 and 6 against Newman and Central Oklahoma. Two weeks later, they will face off against Nebraska Kearney and Fort Hays State. The Griffons will wrap up their regular season against a pair of ranked opponents, starting with No. 17 Emporia State on November 1 and concluding with No. 2 Washburn the following Sunday.
 
In Jacob Plocher's first season, the Griffons secured the final spot in the conference tournament with a 5-8-6 (3-4-4 MIAA) record. MWSU ended the 2023 season with 211 shots (11.1 AVG/G) and 26 goals (1.37 AVG/G). Additionally they collected 85 saves (4.47 AVG/G), finishing with a .752 save percentage for the season. 
 
Western was picked to finish sixth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 86 points and one first-place vote. Washburn was picked to repeat as the MIAA champions and Central Missouri was tabbed as the runner-up.
 
The 2024 MIAA Women's Soccer Championship is scheduled to begin Sunday, November 10, with the top four seeds hosting quarterfinal matches at home. The four remaining seeds will then travel to Wichita, Kansas, for the championship's final matches, which are set for November 14 and 16 at the Stryker Sports Complex.
 
MEET THE FORWARDS
The Griffons will roster eight forward attackers this season with six returners and a pair of transfers.
 
Sophomore Kendall Knisley (also a midfielder) will aim to help fill the shoes of All-MIAA forward Jaden Skinner. Knisley had an outstanding freshman year, receiving All-MIAA Honor Mention recognition after collecting 15 points from six goals and three assists. Additionally, senior Elisabeth Pujado comes back this season after a strong showing in 2023, contributing three goals and an assist for the Griffons.
 
Corinne Stewart, Camrin Peaslee, Teigan Capper, Libby Skinner and Grace Apgar (also a defender) are among other returning players on the offensive side of the pitch. A season ago, Stewart drove in two goals and provided an assist, while Peaslee chipped in one goal and assisted on another.
 
Aidyn Woodall and Rachyl Benavides, both incoming transfers, will look to make a significant impact on the MWSU offense this year. Woodall excelled at Northeast Community College for two seasons, while Benavides began her career at Upper Iowa, where she led the team in scoring in 2023.
 
MEET THE MIDFIELDERS
Seven players, including three returnees, two transfers and a pair of freshmen, will look to control Western's midfield.
 
Annie McDevitt and Josie Sola are the Griffons' lone returners at the midfield position. McDevitt returns following a solid sophomore season in which she tallied 1264 minutes in 12 starts. Sola appeared in four games last season for 77 minutes.
 
A pair of transfers, Sydney Hammett from Johnson County Community College and Kaari Little from Montana State-Billings, will add depth to the midfield. Last season, Hammett was an NJCAA Division II All-American Honorable Mention, while Little collected eight points (2G, 4A) in 14 starts.
 
Incoming freshmen include Ava Jellen (Papillion, Neb. / Papillion La Vista South HS) and Chloe Depner (Temecula, Calif. / Temecula Valley HS).
 
MEET THE DEFENDERS
Missouri Western will roster 11 defenders this season consisting of seven returners, three freshmen and a transfer.
 
Senior Lauren Nylund, an All-MIAA Second Team selection last season, returns for her final season on the pitch for the Griffons. The San Antonio, Texas native started in all 19 games last season, racking up 1716 minutes, her first career goal and three assists. Fellow senior Katelynn Rowland also brings back a wealth of experience on the defensive end of the pitch with over 1300 minutes of play last season and four points (1G, 2A). 
 
In addition to the seniors, juniors Brookelyn Buttolph and Nicoletta Froehlich each appeared in all 19 games last season for the Griffions. Junior Alexis Jennerwein and senior Madeline Pearl also return from last season.
 
Incoming junior, Maddy Harmon, joins Missouri Western from UT Tyler. With the Patriots, the Leakwood, Kansas native appeared for over 400 minutes in eight matches.
 
Incoming freshmen include Savannah Feldmann (Smithville, Mo. / Northland Christian HS), Chaleigh Depner (Temecula, Calif. / Temecula Valley HS) and Riley Espinoza (Albuquerque, N.M. / Eldorado HS).
 
MEET THE GOALKEEPERS
The keeper position will feature an experienced group with two seniors and one incoming freshman.
 
Keeley Kroonenberg returns for her senior campaign after earning All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition last season. The Highlands Ranch, Colorado native will look to build on an impressive junior season in which she finished with a 1.48 goals against average and 77 saves, leading to four wins and three shutout victories. Sophie Wellinghoff heads into her final season with five saves and a shutout victory against Missouri Southern (9/24/23) last season.
 
Freshman Morgan Byrd joins Missouri Western from Papillion, Nebraska, where she helped her team to a pair of state championships.