ST. JOSEPH – With two weeks remaining in the regular season, the Missouri Western women’s soccer team finds itself in a position to make its second-consecutive NCAA Central Region Championships appearance. Missouri Western was ranked sixth in the first release of the NCAA Division II regional rankings, Wednesday.

Last year the Griffons made their first regional appearance in program history and are in a good spot to do it again with the top-eight teams in the final regional rankings making the field. The Griffons are 10-4 overall and and 5-2 in MIAA play with three of their remaining four regular season games on Craig Field at Spratt Memorial Stadium. Northeastern State comes to St. Joseph this Friday while Central Oklahoma – ranked No. 2 in the Central Region poll – visits the Griffons on Sunday. Next week Missouri Western hosts Northwest Missouri for Senior Night on Oct. 26 before traveling to Central Missouri for the regular season finale Oct. 28.

Missouri Western was one of three MIAA teams inside the top-eight with Emporia State just on the outside looking in at No. 9. Current MIAA leader Central Oklahoma was ranked No. 2 behind Bemidji State with Central Missouri at No. 3. Minnesota State which hosted the Griffons in the regional last season was No. 4 and Oklahoma Baptist was ranked No. 5. Behind the Griffons were Augustana (SD) at No. 7, Concordia-St. Paul at No. 8, Emporia State at No. 9 and Minot State at No. 10.

— MWSU Athletics —