WC Missouri News

The University of Central Missouri Jennies Soccer team, ranked No. 10 nationally, is set to host two Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) matches this weekend at the South Recreation Complex in Warrensburg. The Jennies will face Fort Hays State on Friday, October 3 at 6 p.m., followed by a match against Nebraska Kearney on Sunday, October 5 at 1 p.m.

Friday's game will feature "Soctober," an event presented by Central Bank. Activities include food trucks and a bounce house in the parking lot. Warrensburg Parks and Recreation is sponsoring tickets for youth soccer players, who will receive free admission; parents can attend for $2 each. The first 300 fans will be given a Culver's Concrete coupon. After the match, youth players will have the opportunity to participate in a kids vs. Jennies game on the field with members of the UCM team.

Central Missouri enters the weekend with a record of 4-2-2 overall and 1-0-1 in MIAA play after recording a draw against Northeastern State and a win over Rogers State last week. Forward Mikayla Ernst leads both the conference and ranks second nationally in goals scored with nine this season; she also tops the MIAA and stands third nationally with twenty points.

Other key contributors for UCM include forwards Izzy Joyce and Maryn Clement, as well as midfielders Coryn Jespersen and Ryann Clark. Goalkeeper Kristen Wright has posted three shutouts while allowing six goals across eight matches.

This season, UCM averages 2.63 goals per game while limiting opponents to an average of 0.75 goals per game.

Ernst recently became only the third player in program history to score four goals in a single match during UCM’s victory over Harding on September 21.

The Jennies were selected as preseason favorites in the MIAA Coaches’ Poll for 2025, receiving four first-place votes out of all participants 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. All-time under Theobald’s leadership at that venue, they are now at 166 wins, seventeen losses, and nine draws.

Head coach Lewis Theobald is currently serving his eighteenth year with Central Missouri. He holds an overall record of 312 wins, fifty-three losses, and twenty-nine draws—the most victories among coaches in program history as well as MIAA women’s soccer history—and led UCM to its first national championship title in 2017.

Under his tenure, Theobald has coached multiple All-Americans including Ashleigh Martin and Jada Scott; he also guided goalkeeper Ana Dilkes to National Player of the Year honors during their championship run.

Central Missouri holds dominant records against both upcoming opponents: leading Fort Hays State sixteen wins to two (with one draw), and Nebraska Kearney twelve wins to none (with one draw).

Looking ahead after this weekend’s matches, UCM will continue its homestand by hosting Northwest Missouri State on October 12th and Missouri Western on October 14th.