Women's Soccer 11/4/2021 8:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Hosts Missouri Western In MIAA Quarterfinal

EDMOND – The University of Central Oklahoma soccer team is scheduled to host Missouri Western Sunday at 1 p.m. in the MIAA Championship quarterfinals at Tom Thompson Field.

Central Oklahoma finished the 2021 regular season 12-4-2, with an 8-2-1 record in the MIAA, and drew the fourth seed in the postseason tournament. Missouri Western went 9-7-2 in the regular season and 6-5-0 in league play to draw the fifth seed in the tournament.

The top eight teams in the MIAA make the postseason. The top four seeds host the quarterfinals at campus sites. The highest remaining seed after the first round will host the remainder of the tournament next weekend.

"Every game from here on out is a big game and is the only game that matters," UCO associate head soccer coach Amel Muhamedagic said. "We have to be focused on one game at a time. We have to be focused on doing our job and not worrying about anything other than that."

Central Oklahoma enters the postseason averaging 1.89 goals per game. The Bronchos ranked fourth in the MIAA in goals scored this season with 34 shots finding the back of the net in 18 games. UCO is third in the league in shots taken (310) and second in the MIAA in shots on goal (110).

Leading Central offensively this season is sophomore midfielder Monika McGee. A Moore, Oklahoma native, McGee has nine goals scored and one assist for a team-high 19 points. She ranks fourth in the league in goals scored. McGee took 44 shots and put 23 on target.

Taryn Kedzior is second on the team with seven goals scored this season and she added three assists for 17 total points. She is tied for eighth in the MIAA in goals scored.

Kassidy Collins, who missed six games due to injury, scored five goals and had a team-high four assists. Eden Jones played all 18 games and also scored five goals.

Defensively, Central allows just 0.94 goals per game this season. The Bronchos have been led all year by senior goalkeeper Kaitlyn Asher, who is 11-3-2 in goal and has played over 1,300 minutes.

Asher is a fifth-year senior, returning after last fall's season was canceled. She made 56 saves and has over 150 in her career. She allowed just 13 goals in over 1,300 minutes this season for a 0.87 goals against average. Asher had six solo shutouts and played in four other games UCO earned a shutout.

Asher and the Central defense have been boosted by a strong line in front of the goal. Linsey Gordon has played in and started all 18 games for the Bronchos this season at center back. Meredith Wilson has too at either right back or left back.

Missouri Western scored 25 goals in 18 games this season. That 1.39 goals per game average ranked sixth in the MIAA. The Griffons of St. Joseph, Missouri gave up 21 goals, an average of 1.17 per contest.

Kaili Campbell scored a team-high seven goals while Jaden Skinner and Eszter Toth both scored five goals. Anna Mayer was the only goalkeeper to appear in a game for the Griffons this season. She played 1,687+ minutes and made 88 saves.

Central Oklahoma and Missouri Western met once this season. The Bronchos shutout the Griffons 2-0 in St. Joe two weeks ago. UCO owns a 7-2-1 all-time record against MWSU.

The winner of Central Oklahoma and Missouri Western will advance in the MIAA Championship. The winner of top-seeded Central Missouri and eighth-seeded Fort Hays State will be the semifinal opponent. The highest remaining seed in the semifinals will host the remainder of the tournament. The semis are scheduled to be held Friday, Nov. 12 with the 2021 MIAA Championship final scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 14.

UCO has won each of the last three MIAA postseason tournaments. Central won the 2018 regular season title before winning the postseason championship too. The Bronchos then won the 2019 postseason tournament as the No. 4 seed. Central also won the MIAA's Spring Soccer Tournament held earlier this year. That tournament was an unofficial league organized event following the fall 2020 season being canceled.

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Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Linsey Gordon: D; 5' 5"; Freshman

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

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

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

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

Players Mentioned

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

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

#5 Linsey Gordon
: 5' 5"; Freshman
: D

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

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

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

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