Women's Soccer 11/14/2019 1:37:00 PM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Set For MIAA Semifinals

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team continues its postseason march Friday when the Bronchos take on Central Missouri in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association semifinals.

Central Oklahoma, the fourth-seed in the MIAA postseason tournament, is 13-4-1 this season and is taking a five-game win streak to Warrensburg. The top-seeded Jennies of Central Missouri are 17-1-1 on the season and are hosting the remainder of the conference tourney. Northeastern State and Emporia State will faceoff prior to UCO's game in the other semifinal. The MIAA Championship is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m.

"It's going to be a tough game," UCO head soccer coach Mike Cook said. "But they all are now. It's the playoffs and you have to play your best soccer for 90 minutes. We need to go into the match ready to compete and be focused and we'll see what happens."

Central Oklahoma is looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Jennies. UCO fell short, 2-1, in Warrensburg last month.

UCO goes to Warrensburg this time with the No. 1 offense in the league, and one of the best offenses in the country. The Bronchos average 3.05 goal goals per game this season, which is the best mark in the MIAA and the ninth-best mark in the country.

Kelsie Eason leads that charge for the Bronchos. The junior has a team-high 17 goals this season, the ninth-most in any season in UCO history, and also has eight assists. Her 42 total points is the 11th-best mark in the country.

Eason, who earned All-American honors last season, is up to eighth on Central's all-time scoring list with 31 goals.

Asha Haile, whose 45 career goals are fourth-most in school history, has 12 this season and is as viable an option up front as Eason. Haile also leads the team with 11 assists.

The ability to stop both of them is near impossible, as evident by UCO's 58 goals this season.

Central still has more supporting cast that is doing plenty of damage. Haley Post has eight goals and six assists this season. Taryn Kedzior, a left back, has five goals and three assists, and freshman midfielder Eden Jones has three goals.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma allows 1.21 goals per game this season. Kaitlyn Asher has an 11-3-2 record in goal and has played over 1,400 minutes. She's made 42 saves and allowed just 12 goals, a 0.75 goals against average. Asher earned All-MIAA honorable mention and was named MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week three times this season. She also has six shutouts.

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Players Mentioned

#1 Kaitlyn Asher: GK; 5' 7"; Junior

#10 Kelsie Eason: MF; 5' 6"; Junior

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

#14 Taryn Kedzior: D; 5' 11"; Sophomore

#13 Haley Post: F; 5' 5"; Senior

#15 Eden Jones: MF; 5' 9"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#1 Kaitlyn Asher
: 5' 7"; Junior
: GK

#10 Kelsie Eason
: 5' 6"; Junior
: MF

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

#14 Taryn Kedzior
: 5' 11"; Sophomore
: D

#13 Haley Post
: 5' 5"; Senior
: F

#15 Eden Jones
: 5' 9"; Freshman
: MF