Women's Soccer 11/17/2021 12:00:00 PM Chris Brannick

UCO Opens National Tournament Friday

Bronchos Facing Bemidji State in Kansas

EMPORIA, Kan. – The University of Central Oklahoma is scheduled to make its 14th appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Friday, with the Bronchos playing Bemidji State (Minn.) at 10 a.m.

Central Oklahoma is the No. 6 seed in the Central Region, while Bemidji State is the No. 3 seed. Second-seeded Emporia State is hosting the sub-regional and will face off against seventh-seeded Northwest Missouri at 1 p.m. Friday.

The two winners will meet Sunday at 2 p.m. in the second round of the national tournament. Central Missouri is hosting the other half of the Central Regional. UCM faces No. 8 Southwestern Oklahoma State while (4) Minnesota State and (5) Oklahoma Baptist also play.

The two advancing teams from each sub-regional will play in the "Sweet 16" in two weeks. The 2021 NCAA Division II Women's Soccer National Championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 11 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Central Oklahoma enters the national tournament with a 13-5-2 overall record. The Bronchos finished fourth in the MIAA and made the conference tournament semifinals before receiving an at-large bid to nationals.

Bemidji State enters the national tournament 18-1-2 this fall. The Beavers won the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference regular season title and finished runner-up in the postseason tournament before receiving an at-large bid to nationals.

The two schools have never met on the pitch.

Central comes into Friday's match averaging 1.85 goals per game. The Bronchos are one of the highest scoring teams in the MIAA this season. UCO averages 17.6 shots per game and has put over half of its shots on goal.

Defensively, Central allows an even one goal per game, having conceded 20 goals in 20 contests. The Bronchos do prevent their opponents from even getting shots off. Opponents take 9.6 shots per game against Central, with more than half on target. UCO has posted 11 shutouts this fall.

Monika McGee leads the offense with nine goals. She also has one assist. McGee, the team captain, has taken 47 shots this season from her midfield position. The sophomore from Moore, Oklahoma has put 24 shots on goal. Of her nine goals, five of those were game winners.

Taryn Kedzior, also a team captain and the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year, has been a stalwart for the Bronchos this fall. The junior from Claremore, Oklahoma has seven goals and three assists and has taken a team-high 51 shots with 28 on goal. Kedzior doubles up with a defensive effort that has been crucial in slowing down the opponents' top player.

Kassidy Collins, five goals and five assists, and Eden Jones, five goals and one assist, have also been key for the Bronchos this season. Madison Linavong, four goals and three assists, has been as well.

Kaitlyn Asher has been the mainstay in goal for the Bronchos this season. The fifth-year senior, who was named co-MIAA Goalkeeper of the Year, has played in each of Central Oklahoma's 11 shutouts this fall and is solely responsible for seven of them.

Asher has a 0.95 goals against average and has made 64 saves in 1,520 minutes of action this season.

Bemidji State has lost once all season and that came last weekend in its conference championship match. The Beavers not only took a 20-game unbeaten run into that championship but also had seven consecutive shutouts heading into the final.

Bemidji averages 2.33 goals per game and allows just 0.71 per contest.

Sara Wendt is the team's leading scorer with 19 goals in 21 games. She also has three assists and has taken 84 shots this season. Allyson Smith, with six goals and eight assists, has taken a team-high 101 shots. Mason Schilling, with five goals and five assists, was named NSIC Freshman of the Year. The Beavers also have NSIC Defensive Player of the Year in Megan Dahl.

Alyssa Stumbaugh has been BSU's mainstay in goal. She has played in 18 of 21 games, 1,518 minutes, and has a 0.65 goals against average. Stumbaugh has made 62 saves and has nine shutouts. She was part of two more in split action. Bemidji State has posted 12 shutouts this season.

Central Oklahoma is making its 14th appearance in the national tournament. The Bronchos have an 8-10-3 all-time record in the postseason event. UCO is 6-4-2 in the opening round.

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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