Women's Soccer 11/21/2019 10:37:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Opens NCAA Tournament Friday

MANKATO, Minn. – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team will make its 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament Friday when the Bronchos take on Augustana in the first round matchup at Minnesota State.

Central Oklahoma is 14-4-3 this season. The Bronchos qualified for the NCAAs this year by winning the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Tournament Championship, which it did last week.

UCO is paced by an offense that is among the national leaders in scoring. The Bronchos possess the 10th-best scoring offense in the country heading into the tournament, with a 2.86 goals per game mark. Central's 60 total goals this season are the seventh-most in the nation. UCO has also assisted on 44 goals this season. That mark is good for 12th in the country.

Kelsie Eason's 17 goals and nine assists leads the team. Her 43 total points are the 13th-most in the country by any individual. Eason has scored a goal in 10 of 21 games this season and has scored two goals in seven of those games. Eason is a First Team All-MIAA and First Team All-Region selection this season.

Asha Haile is second on the team with 12 goals this season and has a team-high 11 assists. Her 35 total points also rank among the national leaders, coming in at No. 25.

UCO's defense gives that offense a boost. The Bronchos allow just 1.14 goals per game this season and have seven shutouts on the season. Central Oklahoma, thanks to a stout back line of Kelsey Gordon, Taryn Kedzior and Meredith Wilson, holds opponents to just 8.7 total shots per game and only four shots on goal per game.

The benefactor of a tough line in front of her, Kaitlyn Asher, an All-MIAA selection at goalkeeper, has a 12-3-3 record in goal for the Bronchos this season. The junior keeper has all seven Broncho shutouts to her credit this season and has a 0.71 goals against average, which is Top 40 in the entire country.

Augustana has a 15-4-1 record this season. The Vikings of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, finished third in the league standings in the Northern Sun and lost in the semifinals of their conference tournament, taking an at-large bid to the national tournament.

Auggie averages 2.05 goals per game and allows just 0.95 per contest. Grace Behm's eight goals is a team-high and Claire Dahm has scored seven. Claudia Pueschner has played 20 of 25 games in goal and has a 14-4-1 record and a 0.95 goals against average.

Central Oklahoma has played Auggie just once before. That also came in the NCAA Tournament back in 2014. UCO won 1-0 in the matchup.

The winner of Friday's game will advance in the tournament to play host, Minnesota State. The Bronchos have played MSU four times before, including in last season's NCAA Tournament, which ended with a 3-1 win for Central.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Kelsey Gordon: D; 6' 0"; Senior

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

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

#3 Meredith Wilson: D; 5' 9"; Junior

Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Kelsey Gordon
: 6' 0"; Senior
: D

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

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

#3 Meredith Wilson
: 5' 9"; Junior
: D