WC Missouri News

The University of Central Missouri Jennies soccer team, ranked No. 10 nationally, is set to begin its Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) season with two away games in Oklahoma. The Jennies will play Northeastern State on Friday, September 26 at DeLoache Field in Tahlequah and then face Rogers State on Sunday, September 28 at Soldier Field in Claremore.

Central Missouri enters conference play with a record of 3-2-1 after recent home wins against Ouachita Baptist and Harding. In those matches, the Jennies defeated Ouachita Baptist 5-0 and Harding 7-2. Forward Mikayla Ernst leads the team offensively with eight goals and two assists through six matches. Izzy Joyce and Alexandra Hofbauer have also contributed multiple goals.

Ernst was recognized as the MIAA Offensive Athlete of the Week for the second consecutive week following her performance last weekend, where she scored six goals across two matches. She currently ranks second nationally in NCAA Division II for both goals (eight) and points (18). Goalkeeper Kristen Wright has started all six matches for UCM this season, recording three shutouts and maintaining a goals-against average of 0.83.

The team's overall statistics include an average of 2.5 goals per game while allowing just 0.83 to opponents. Central Missouri averages nearly 13 shots per game compared to opponents' approximately 12 shots per game.

In Sunday's win over Harding, Ernst became only the third player in program history to score four goals in a single match, joining Jada Scott (2016) and Sarah Bourn (1995). "Ernst became just the third player in program history to score a UCM single-match record four goals in the Jennies' 7-2 win over Harding on Sunday, Sept. 21," according to university sources.

Jennies Soccer was picked first in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll for this season after receiving four first-place votes out of all coaches polled.

Since 2016, Central Missouri has compiled a home record of 91 wins, seven losses, and two draws at South Recreation Complex under head coach Lewis Theobald. Overall under Theobald's leadership since his start as head coach, UCM has achieved an all-time home mark of 166-17-9 at that venue.

Head Coach Lewis Theobald is now entering his eighteenth year leading Jennies Soccer. "Lewis Theobald...has transformed the Jennies Soccer program into one of the premier programs not only in the MIAA but also in NCAA Division II." He holds an overall coaching record of 311 wins, making him both UCM's and MIAA women's soccer's all-time winningest coach.

This season’s roster features ten newcomers: eight freshmen from high schools—including Kate Martin, Kara Robinson, Alexandra Hofbauer—and two transfers: goalkeeper Hannah McFarlane from Pacific University and defender Acacia Weis from Lamar University.

In series history against their upcoming opponents: Central Missouri leads Northeastern State by sixteen wins to two with one draw; last year’s matchup resulted in a UCM victory by three goals to one. Against Rogers State, UCM is undefeated with four wins and one draw; last year they won that fixture by two goals without reply.

Following these road games opening conference play this weekend, Central Missouri will return home for a four-match homestand starting October 3 against Fort Hays State.