Women's Soccer 11/9/2022 10:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Bronchos Head To NCAAs

BEMIDJI, Minn. – Central Oklahoma makes its 15th appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's Soccer Championship Friday, with the Bronchos taking on Bemidji State in a first-round match.

UCO is the No. 7 seed in the Central Region. The Beavers of Bemidji are the No. 2 seed. The only time these two schools have played on the pitch was last year's NCAA opener in Emporia, Kansas. The game ended in a 0-0 tie, and Bemidji advanced on PKs.

This season, UCO went 11-4-4 overall and 6-3-2 in the MIAA to earn the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament. The Bronchos were ousted there in the quarterfinals before being selected for a spot in the national tournament.

Bemidji State went 14-2-5 this season and finished second in the Northern Sun with a 10-1-4 league record. BSU then won its first postseason championship to earn automatic selection in the national tournament.

UCO scored 33 goals this season, an average of 1.74 per game. The Bronchos took 252 total shots, 13.3 per game, and put 123 of those on goal.

Defensively, Central Oklahoma has given up 18 goals in 19 games, a 0.95 average, with opponents taking 10.8 shots per game against the Bronchos. UCO has six shutouts on the season.

Bemidji brings a 1.48 goals per game average into the playoffs, scoring 31 goals in 21 contests. BSU has taken 296 shots, averaging 14.1 per game, and the Beavers have put 143 of those on goal.

Bemidji's defense has 14 shutouts this season, including six consecutive and in 10 of the last 11 games. Opponents have just 11 goals against BSU in 21 games.

Individually, Amaya Grace and Madison Linavong lead Central Oklahoma's offense. Grace posted a team-high eight goals with four assists and Linavong put up five goals and a team-high nine assists.

Monika McGee and Lauren Piper are also key players on offense for the Bronchos, with both scoring four goals this season. Both also had one assist each.

Eden Jones added three goals, and Adria Ramirez, Emily Tincher and Zoe Ross all scored twice. Lauren Hinnenkamp, Rebecca Tweedy and Kylee Wickersham all added one goal and Albany Adair added a pair of assists.

Wickersham, with Kassidy Collins and Avery Holland led Central's back line while Caroline Faulkner did most of the work in goal.

Faulkner went 6-3-4 in 13 games as UCO's goalkeeper. She allowed 12 goals, a 0.98 GAA, and made 62 saves.

Bemidji is led by Sara Wendt, who leads the NSIC with 11 goals scored. Erin Becker and Allyson Smith both have six goals and Becker also has four assists. Megan Majewski leads BSU with five assists.

Megan Dahl was named NSIC Defensive Player of the Year. She led the BSU defense in front of goalkeepers Alyssa Stumbaugh and Georgiana Harber. Stumbaugh played in 13 games and gave up nine goals while making 59 saves. She went 8-2-3 in goal with eight shutouts. Harber played in eight games, gave up just two goals, and made 14 saves. She went 6-0-2 with six shutouts.

Bemidji State is also hosting No. 3-seeded Minnesota State and No. 6 Northwest Missouri. The two winners are scheduled to play Sunday at 3 p.m. UCO beat Minnesota State in Missouri on the first weekend of the 2022 regular season. Central dropped a 2-0 decision against Northwest Missouri on Senior Day in mid-October.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Kassidy Collins: D; 5' 6"; Sophomore

#1 Caroline Faulkner: GK; 5' 10"; Sophomore

#10 Lauren Hinnenkamp: MF; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#27 Avery Holland: D; 5' 6"; Junior

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

#11 Madison Linavong: MF; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#6 Monika McGee: MF; 5' 4"; Junior

#23 Adria Ramirez: MF; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#24 Emily Tincher: MF; 5' 4"; Sophomore

#4 Kylee Wickersham: D; 5' 10"; Sophomore

Players Mentioned

#7 Kassidy Collins
: 5' 6"; Sophomore
: D

#1 Caroline Faulkner
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: GK

#10 Lauren Hinnenkamp
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: MF

#27 Avery Holland
: 5' 6"; Junior
: D

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

#11 Madison Linavong
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: MF

#6 Monika McGee
: 5' 4"; Junior
: MF

#23 Adria Ramirez
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: MF

#24 Emily Tincher
: 5' 4"; Sophomore
: MF

#4 Kylee Wickersham
: 5' 10"; Sophomore
: D