Women's Soccer 10/14/2021 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts No. 3 Emporia State

Bronchos Playing Second Ranked Team In As Many Games

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team is scheduled to host third-ranked Emporia State Friday night in a crucial MIAA matchup. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. from Tom Thompson Field.

Central Oklahoma is 8-3-1 this season and has a 4-1-0 record in the MIAA. Emporia State is 11-0-1 overall and 5-0-0 in league play.

"This is a big game for us," UCO associate head coach Amel Muhamedagic said. "It's the second nationally ranked opponent in a row and we are looking forward to the challenge. It's a big game for them too. They're playing well and they're going to be looking to keep that going. It'll be up to us to play a good game and be focused on our gameplan."

Emporia State is ranked No. 3 in the country in the latest United Soccer Coaches Top 25. It's the highest ranking in school history for the Hornets. ESU, which made the national tournament for the first time in school history in 2018, was the top seed in the 2021 MIAA Spring Soccer Tournament following the unofficial spring season organized by the league. UCO beat ESU on their home pitch in the first round of the tournament before the Bronchos claimed their third postseason tournament win in a row.

ESU is led by Mackenzie Dimarco, who has a league-high 12 goals this season. Hannah Woolery also has seven goals. The Hornets have scored 37 goals in 11 games. It's 3.08 goals per game leads the league. Jillian Patton leads the defense in goal. She's 10-0-0 in the lineup and has only allowed 10 goals in over 900 minutes of play. Emporia allows an even 1.0 goals per game, which ranks second in the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma welcomes Emporia State to Edmond looking to rebound after a 3-1 setback to No. 18 Central Missouri this past Sunday. The loss snapped a seven-game unbeaten streak by the Bronchos.

UCO is averaging 2.25 goals per game this season, the third-best mark in the MIAA, and the Bronchos allow 1.17 goals per game, the fourth-best mark in the league.

Monika McGee leads Central offensively. The sophomore from Moore, Oklahoma, and team captain, has eight goals in 12 games this season. She's taken a team-high 34 shots and put 18 of those on goal.

Kassidy Collins is second on the team with five goals and also has two assists. She's taken 25 total shots and put 15 on goal. Eden Jones, with four goals, has taken 15 total shots and put 10 on goal.

Taryn Kedzior also has three goals and two assists and Madison Linavong has two goals and four assists for the offense. Five other Bronchos have scored at least once this season.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma allows 1.17 goals per game. The Bronchos have done a stellar job this fall at limiting chances for the opponents. UCO has outshot its competition in 12 of 13 games this season. The Bronchos were even with Dallas Baptist in the only game they didn't outshoot their opponent.

Kaitlyn Asher has played the most time in goal for UCO this season. The fifth-year senior is 7-2-1 in 11 games played. She has made 21 saves and has allowed only 10 goals in over 800 minutes.

Central Oklahoma will wrap up a four-game homestand later this weekend following Friday night's MIAA showdown. UCO hosts Washburn Sunday at 1 p.m. before hitting the road next weekend.

The Bronchos play at Northwest Missouri and at Missouri Western before returning home for the final two home games of the regular season against Newman and Rogers State. The 2021 MIAA Championship is scheduled to begin Sunday, Nov. 7 with the top four teams in the league hosting the next four at campus sites.

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Players Mentioned

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

#13 Kassidy Collins: D; 5' 4"; Freshman

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

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

#6 Monika McGee: MF; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#11 Madison Linavong: MF; 5' 4"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

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

#13 Kassidy Collins
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: D

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

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

#6 Monika McGee
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: MF

#11 Madison Linavong
: 5' 4"; Freshman
: MF