Women's Soccer 11/2/2023 6:00:00 AM Chris Brannick

Central Oklahoma Opens Postseason Play Friday

Bronchos Visit Central Missouri For MIAA Women's Soccer Championship Quarterfinals

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Central Oklahoma begins its postseason quest Friday evening with a 4 p.m. kickoff at Central Missouri in the quarterfinals of the 2023 MIAA Women's Soccer Championship.

Central Oklahoma posted a 6-6-6 record this season with a 3-4-4 mark in the MIAA. The earned the Bronchos the No. 7 seed in the eight-team postseason tournament. Central Missouri went 13-3-2 overall and 8-1-2 in the MIAA to earn the No. 2 seed and a home game in the first round.

The winner will advance to the semifinals, where four remaining teams meet in Wichita, Kansas Thursday, Nov. 9 at Stryker Sports Complex. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11 at 8 p.m.

UCO and UCM played earlier this season in Edmond and the teams played 90 minutes to a scoreless draw. As the season shifts to the playoffs, overtime will return to college soccer. If teams are tied at the end of 90 minutes, two 10-minute overtime periods will be played with no golden goal. A penalty kick shootout will follow the two overtime periods if the teams are still tied after 110 minutes.

Central Oklahoma tied six times this season including the match against Central Missouri in Edmond. In that game, UCM took 11 shots and put four shots on goal. Caroline Faulkner saved each one of those. UCO took seven shots and put two on goal.

Faulkner leads Central Oklahoma into the postseason. The fourth-year junior has played in 12 games this fall and has 37 saves. Faulkner has 15 goals allowed for a 1.33 GAA and she has four shutouts to her credit this season.

UCO has six total shutouts and the team has a 1.24 goals allowed average after 18 games this season.

Amaya Grace, who was named First Team All-MIAA on Wednesday, leads the Broncho attack into the playoffs. The fifth-year senior has a team-high 10 goals scored and also has two assists. She ranks second in the league in goals scored this season.

Lauren Piper, four goals and three assists, also helps on offense. Albany Adair and Elena Conaway both have three goals scored. Matilda Torres and Kylee Wickersham chip in with two goals scored each this season. Five other Bronchos have scored at least one goal.

UCO had Grace earn First Team All-MIAA honors on Wednesday. Emma Nicholas, who has one goal and one assist, earned Second Team All-MIAA honors. Madison Linavong, Kassidy Collins, Linsey Gordon, and Avery Holland were all named Honorable Mention All-MIAA.

Central Oklahoma trails in the all-time series against Central Missouri, 7-15-4, but the Bronchos do have a marquee win in Warrensburg. In the 2019 MIAA Women's Soccer Championship semifinals, Central Oklahoma beat Central Missouri to end a 54-game home unbeaten streak by UCM.

Central Missouri was 52-0-2 from October 2015 to November 2019. UCM is 32-4-1 at home since the Bronchos upset the Jennies in the semifinals Nov. 15, 2019.

Central Missouri had nine players honored by the MIAA on Wednesday with postseason accolades. The Jennies have scored 37 goals this season and only conceded six. UCM also has 20 assists on 37 goals. The Jennies have 12 shutouts in 18 games this season.

Here's the complete schedule for the MIAA Women's Soccer Championship:

First Round
Friday, Nov. 3
At Campus Sites
(1) Washburn vs. (8) Missouri Western, 6 p.m.
(2) Central Missouri vs. (7) Central Oklahoma, 4 p.m.
(3) Fort Hays State vs. (6) Northeastern State, 7 p.m.
(4) Emporia State vs. (5) Northwest Missouri, 2 p.m.
Semifinals
Thursday, Nov. 9
At Stryker Sports Complex
WU/MWSU winner vs. ESU/NWMSU winner, 3 p.m.
UCM/UCO winner vs. FHSU/NSU winner, 12 p.m.
Championship
Saturday, Nov. 11
At Stryker Sports Complex
Semifinal winners, 8 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#16 Albany Adair: F; 5' 5"; Junior

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

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

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

#3 Amaya Grace: F; 5' 2"; Senior

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

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

#17 Lauren Piper: MF; 5' 5"; Sophomore

#19 Matilda Torres: MF; 5' 7"; Junior

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

Players Mentioned

#16 Albany Adair
: 5' 5"; Junior
: F

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

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

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

#3 Amaya Grace
: 5' 2"; Senior
: F

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

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

#17 Lauren Piper
: 5' 5"; Sophomore
: MF

#19 Matilda Torres
: 5' 7"; Junior
: MF

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