Women's Soccer 10/25/2018 10:27:00 AM Haley Eldridge

No. 5 UCO Hosts Northeastern State Friday

EDMOND – The fifth-ranked University of Central Oklahoma soccer team takes on Northeastern State Friday, Oct. 26 at 7 p.m. at Wantland Stadium in Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association play. The game will be played at Wantland due to soggy field conditions at Tom Thompson Field.

"We're preaching to stay focused and stay strong," UCO head soccer coach Mike Cook said. "To get a perfect season would be pretty amazing. That's our goal we want to win two more games. But it's also still one game at a time for this last weekend."

These two teams faced each other earlier in the season and UCO came out on top 1-0.

The Bronchos are MIAA regular season champions with two games left on the schedule, with a 9-0 record in league play. Central is 16-0 overall this season.

UCO continues to be led by senior Katie Killion, who is leading the nation in goals scored (22) and total points (52). Her eight assists rank 23rd in Division II. Junior Asha Haile is also having an impressive year with 12 goals, ranking second in the MIAA behind only her teammate in goals scored. Central's assist leader is Kelsie Eason, who's nine assists rank 12th in the country and first in the league.

UCO not only has the top two goal scorers in the MIAA (Killion 22, Haile 12), but it also has the top two players for total assists in the MIAA (Eason 9, Killion 8).

UCO freshmen goalkeeper Kelsi Gibson is sweeping the conference in shutouts, save percentage, and goals against average. The Houston, Texas native has 10 shutouts (12 combined), a DII best 0.156 GAA, and a .933 save percentage. She's only allowed two goals in 1,151+ minutes this season. Her .933 save percentage ranks third in the country.

Northeastern State is 8-6-2 (2-5-2 in the MIAA). NSU is led by junior Mariah Nicolet with six goals and 28 shots. Paulina Chavez, Paige Lorenzo, and Valeria Pankratova have four goals each. Central Oklahoma owns a 20-5-2 all-time record against its intra-state rival from Tahlequah.

The Bronchos will finish their regular season on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 1 p.m. against Missouri Southern on Tom Thompson Field. UCO will recognize eight Broncho seniors before the game as they prepare for their final home game.

Central, in clinching the MIAA regular season title, will host at least the first round of the MIAA Postseason Tournament next Wednesday, Oct. 31 against an opponent to be determined. If Central wins the opener, it will host the remainder of the tournament on Friday, Nov. 2 and Sunday, Nov. 4.

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Players Mentioned

#24 Kelsie Eason: MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#19 Asha Haile: F; 5' 4"; Junior

#9 Katie Killion: F; 5' 2"; Senior

#00 Kelsi Gibson: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#24 Kelsie Eason
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: MF

#19 Asha Haile
: 5' 4"; Junior
: F

#9 Katie Killion
: 5' 2"; Senior
: F

#00 Kelsi Gibson
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: GK