ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – MoWest soccer is hopeful for another historic season in 2025, as the Griffons kick things off at home this fall with home matches against Bemidji State Friday and Northern State on Sunday.

Friday's match is set for 7 p.m., while Sunday's will commence at 1 p.m. Both matches will be streamed live on the MIAA Network with Voice of the Griffons Tommy Rezac providing play-by-play.

A live, free audio broadcast can also be heard on the Varsity Network App and at GoGriffons.com/listen.

Worth a Look Back
The 2024 season was certainly one for the history books, as Griffon soccer turned in a 16-3-3 record overall, including a 9-1-2 mark in MIAA play. MoWest finished No. 2 in the MIAA regular season standings and made the NCAA Central Region Tournament for just the second time in program history.

Playing as the No. 3 seed, Griffon soccer picked up its first NCAA tournament win in program history last November, defeating Concordia-St. Paul 2-1 in first round action.

The 2024 season featured the best start in program history (14-0-2), the longest shutout streak in program history (eight matches), the longest winning streak in program history (11 matches), the best home record in a single season (11-0) and the second most wins in a single season (16).

The team scored 34 goals (second most in program history) and shut out 12 opponents in all (second most in program history).

Guess Who's Back
The Griffons bring back plenty of minutes from that 2024 team. Six players who started 16 matches or more last season are back, along with seven players who scored two or more goals.

Six of the Griffon returners this year were all-MIAA performers last year. The Griffons also boast a stealthy class of 12 seniors.

Senior forward Aidyn Woodall is back after tying for a team-best five goals in 2024 to go with four assists, earning her third team all-MIAA status.

Junior midfielder Kendall Knisley is back after earning second team all-MIAA accolades in 2024. She notched four goals and a team-high five assists.

Senior midfielder Annie McDevitt and senior forward Rachyl Benavides also return after notching third team all-MIAA honors the year before.

McDevitt was on the pitch last year for 1935 minutes (fourth most in program history), while Benavides scored four goals, including three game-winners.

Senior forward Camrin Peaslee and senior defender Brookelyn Buttolph are also back after being named honorable mention all-MIAA. Peaslee knocked in four goals in 2024, while Buttolph was a staple on the back line, playing 1964 minutes (third most in program history).

Newcomers
MoWest added five freshmen and six transfers to the 2025 roster. While there's plenty of returning talent, the Griffons must fill a starting defender spot left vacant by the now graduated Lauren Nylund.

MoWest will also have a new starting goalie this season after Keeley Kroonenberg concluded her legendary career last fall.

The Griffs brought in several new defenders, including junior and Emporia State transfer Ava Smith, who played in 38 matches over two seasons with the Hornets.

Junior Emily Crosby will be one to watch at the center back position, as she started 38 matches over two seasons at Johnson County Community College, earning first-team NJCAA All-American honors in 2024 on a team that went 19-1-4 overall.

As for goalkeeper, the Griffons have three on roster – sophomore Morgan Byrd, freshman Serena Magaha and junior Katie Stoskopf – a Johnson County Community College transfer.

Byrd, a two-sport athlete at MoWest who also plays softball, enters her second season with the program, while Stoskopf is coming off of a stellar year in goal at Johnson County in 2024 where she went 9-0-2, posting 10 shutouts and allowing just one goal.

The Griffs added yet another high-profile transfer from Johnson County with junior midfielder/defender Sydney Puetz, who started 46 matches over the last two seasons for the Cavaliers and scored six total goals in that time.

The Griffs added a striker in sophomore and Kansas City Kansas Community College transfer Kiara Carr, who scored 13 goals for KCKCC last season as a freshman.

Plocher's Prime
Griffon soccer head coach Jacob Plocher enters his third season with the Griffons. Since coming to St. Joseph, the 2024 MIAA Coach of the Year has posted a record of 21-11-9.

Plocher and his staff last season were named the Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches.

In his second season in 2024, Plocher led MoWest to its best start ever, securing 14 straight wins and achieving an impressive 11-game winning streak. That streak included a marquee victory against No. 5 Central Missouri and a program record eight-game shutout streak.

The Griffs reached as high as No. 15 in the United Soccer Coaches' Top 25 poll and were ranked as high as No. 1 in the NCAA Women's Soccer Central Region Rankings.

A Taste of the Northern Sun
The Bemidji State Beavers are coming off of a 9-7-3 mark in 2024, which included a season-opening 1-0 loss to MoWest last September in Bemidji.

The Beavers are picked to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Their senior forward, Katrina Barthelt, was voted as the 2025 NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Barthelt returns after leading the NSIC in scoring and is the reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Year. A two-time D2CCA All-Region and All-NSIC honoree, Barthelt paced the NSIC regular season, scoring 11 goals and producing a league-high 25 points in 2024. She has scored 25 goals during her time at Bemidji State - the ninth most in program history.

Head Coach Jim Stone has led Bemidji State for 23 of the program's 30 seasons and boasts a .631 winning percentage with the program. He ranks 21^st among active coaches in DII with 257 career wins.

Friday marks the seventh all-time meeting with Bemidji State. The Beavers own a slim 3-2-1 advantage in the series. The Griffons last topped Bemidji State in St. Joseph back in 2014 – a 1-0 overtime win.

Northern State finished 7-7-4 last season and are picked seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Head coach Bob Casper enters his fifth season at the helm for the Wolves, compiling a 32-22-19 record in his tenure.

Sunday will be the fourth all-time meeting with Northern State. The Griffons are 1-1-1 all-time against the Wolves, including a 1-1 draw in Aberdeen, South Dakota last September.