Full Notes (PDF)
Season Stats (PDF)
Week At-a-Glance:
With just four matches to play in the regular season, the Truman women’s soccer team still sits in the drivers seat for the MIAA regular season title and can stay there with a pair of wins at Washburn and Central Missouri this week.
The Bulldogs, winners of ten straight, are one point back of Nebraska-Omaha entering the weekend action but benefit from having played one less match than UNO to this point. The Mavs have just one match - at home against Missouri Southern - this weekend before wrapping up their regular season at Southwest Baptist and Central Missouri next week.
Meanwhile, Truman (12-2-2, 11-1 MIAA) continues to move just one match at a time, starting Thursday night at Washburn (8-7-1, 5-6-1). Then, on Saturday, the Bulldogs will face Central Missouri (9-5-2, 8-3-1) on Halloween night. Both of Truman’s foes this week are extremely tough at home with WU posting a 6-1 mark at Yaeger Stadium, while the Jennies have protected their home pitch to a 5-0 record.
The match against UCM will also pit a pair of teams found in the most recent South Central rankings, with the Bulldogs moving up to third with two wins last week and UCM coming in at No. 9. UNO (No. 5) and Northwest Missouri (No. 10) also represent the MIAA in the regional poll.
The top-6 teams - which includes each conference’s champion - will make the NCAA tournament with seeds 1, 4, 5 at one site and seeds 2, 3 and 6 at another.
Following the Team:
Bulldog box scores and match recaps will be available immediately following each match on Truman’s Web site: gobulldogs.truman.edu.
Live Stats for the Washburn match are available at: www.wusports.com
Live Stats for the UCM match are available at: www.ucmo.edu/athletics.
Bulldog Coaching Staff:
Mike Cannon is in his 17th season as the program’s head coach, having compiled a 228-78-29 (.723) overall record at Truman. He has guided the purple and white to eight (of ten) MIAA championships and has reached the NCAA tournament seven times.
He is assisted by Martin Clayes, who is in his second season at Truman as a member of the coaching staff following a four-year stint as a player on the men’s soccer team.
Scouting the Opposition:
Washburn “Lady Blues”
- Top Offense: Leah Talley (6 goals, 2 assists); Ashley Taylor (4 goals)
- Top Goalkeeper: Ashley Klone (16 starts, 1.47 GAA, 67 saves)
- Head Coach: Tim Collins (68-50-22, 7th season at WU)
- Last Time vs. WU (Sept. 17, 2009) – Freshman Olivia Hayes converted on a penalty kick in the 21st minute, and the Truman defense clamped down the rest of the way to help the Bulldogs pick up a 1-0 win against Washburn.
A full recap is available in the notes.
Central Missouri “Jennies”
- Top Offense: Melanie Hall (9 goals, 4 assists); Cara Hennahane (4 goals)
- Top Goalkeeper: Lauren Bamvakais (16 starts, 0.60 GAA, 46 saves)
- Head Coach: Lewis Theobald (34-13-8, 3rd season at UCM)
- Last Time vs. UCM (Oct. 12, 2009) – Senior midfielder Katie Hinrichs headed in the game-winner with just less than five minutes to play, as the Truman women’s soccer team came from behind to knock off Central Missouri, 2-1, in Kirksville. The win marked the eighth straight for the Bulldogs.
A full recap is available in the notes.
Series Info:
Truman vs. Washburn (Truman leads all-time series, 11-3-1).
Truman vs. Central Missouri (Truman leads all-time series, 19-4-4).
Quick Kicks:
- Freshman Olivia Hayes continues to make her case for MIAA freshman of the year, as she ranks second in the conference in goals scored (11), points per game (1.38), and game-winning tallies (5).
- Sophomore Jayne Grisham found the number ‘nine’ to her liking, moving into Truman’s all-time ninth spot in both minutes played and games started. She also passed 9th place and went all the way to 7th with her 10th career shutout in the win at Missouri Southern.
- The Bulldog defense has posted the 6th-best shutout percentage in the NCAA, at a 68.8% shutout clip.
Up Next:
The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season with two matches next week, first at home against Missouri Western on Nov. 3 at 12 pm before traveling to Emporia State for a 1 pm match on Nov. 5.