The greatest regular season in Missouri Western women’s soccer history came to an end Sunday with a 4-0 loss to No. 9 Central Missouri.

The Griffons end their season with the most wins (9) in school history and fewest losses (8) in program history. They now await their pairing in the team’s first ever appearance in the MIAA tournament.

Western used the wind to their advantage in the first half against the Jennies, going to the break in a 0-0 tie and even in shots with the MIAA leading squad. Central Missouri took advantage of the second period wind at their backs, scoring four goals including an own goal off a Griffon defender to cap off the victory.

Missouri Western takes a 9-8-1 overall record and 6-7-1 MIAA mark into the first round of the conference tournament scheduled to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 5.

— Associated Press —

The Missouri Western football team suffered its worst loss since 2010, falling 40-3 to No. 8 Northwest Missouri State on Saturday afternoon in Maryville.

The 37 point defeat was the worst since Missouri Western was shutout 42-0 in Maryville in 2010. The Griffons tallied just six first downs and 78 yards of offense. With the loss, Missouri Western drops to 5-4 on the season. It’s the first time MWSU has lost four games in a season since 2010 and the first 4-loss season in the MIAA since 2008.

The Griffon defense did hold down the Northwest passing game, allowing just 99 yards through the air and picking off two Northwest passes. The Bearcats did their damage on the ground, rushing for 397 yards on 67 carries.

Stephen Juergens finished with 17 total tackles. Meshack Kennedy had 14 and Kirk Resseguie had 10. Skyler Windmiller was 9-19 for 33 yards passing with one interception and Raphael Spencer carried 12 times for 29 yards. John Schmiemeier gave the Griffons their only points of the game with a 48 yard field goal in the second quarter.

Missouri Western will honor the 2014 senior class next Saturday when they host Nebraska-Kearney at 1:30 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team lost three close sets at Pittsburg State Saturday afternoon for just their sixth loss of the season and fourth MIAA loss.

It was the second time this season MWSU has been swept and the first time since the Griffons dropped three straight sets to Central Missouri on Sept. 16.  Western falls to 20-6 and 14-4 in the MIAA.

The Gorillas took the first set, 25-21 in what proved to be the largest margin of victory for any set Pittsburg State won. The next two sets were won by just two points each. Erica Rottinghaus led the Griffons with 18 kills on 34 total attacks. The Griffons hit .176 as a team and had three players finish with negative hitting percentages. Jordan Chohon finished the match with 40 assists and Sarah Faubel had 15 digs. Pittsburg State held Jessie Thorup to just seven kills and kept Amanda Boender (6) and Kelsey Olion (9) in the single digits. Missouri Western had 22 attack errors to 13 for the Gorillas.

Missouri Western returns to the MWSU Fieldhouse on Friday night when they host Fort Hays State at 7 p.m.  On Saturday, four Griffon seniors will be honored in their final home match against Nebraska-Kearney.

— MWSU Sports Information —

If there was any doubt the 2014 Missouri Western volleyball team is one of the best in school history, the team now has the numbers to back it up after a 3-1 victory at Southwest Baptist Friday night.

The Griffons are now 20-5 overall and 14-3 in the MIAA. It’s the first time since 2004 the Griffons have won 20 matches and they’ve matched the program’s most ever wins in the MIAA.

SBU dominated the first set, 25-14 but MWSU took the next three: 25-14, 25-19 and 25-19 to climb into the ranks of MWSU’s top teams ever.

Jessie Thorup led the attack with 14 kills, followed by eight apiece from Kelsey Olion and Erica Rottinghaus. Olion also led the team with 16 digs. Sarah Faubel had 13 digs and Jordan Chohon added 47 assists.

The Griffons take on Pittsburg State at 3:00 p.m. Saturday inside John Lance Arena in Pittsburg, KS.

— MWSU Sports Information–

The Missouri Western women’s soccer team lost 1-0 to Northwest Missouri State on a chilly, Senior Night at Spratt Stadium Friday.

Danielle Wolfe’s header off a free kick in the 88th minute was the game winner for Northwest, who moved to 7-9-1 and 4-8-1 in the MIAA with the win. The Griffons fall to 9-7-1 and 6-6-1 and conclude their regular season Sunday at No. 9 Central Missouri.

Missouri Western outshot the Bearcats 14-5, including seven shots on goal but couldn’t get any past Ashley Malloy. Sydney Cluck led the Griffons with three shots. Katie Kempf, Sydney Andrews and K.C. Ramsell each had two shots. Sarah Lyle ended the game with one save.

At halftime, Griffon seniors K.C. Ramsell, Tara Russell, A.J. Powers and Teddi Serna were honored. Serna was also given an honorary start after her season ended due to injury two weeks ago. The four seniors have helped the Griffons re-write the record books this season, winning more games and shutting out more opponents than any other Griffon Soccer team.

— MWSU Sports Information–

The Missouri Western volleyball team sits in eighth in the first edition of the 2014 Central Region poll. The top-8 teams will make the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Missouri Western is on a record breaking pace, winning its most MIAA contests since 1995 and most overall victories since the 2000 season. The Griffons 18 wins against regional opponents rank third in the region.

Three of Missouri Westenr’s five losses this season have come to opponents currently ranked above them in the regional rankings: Central Missouri (4), Nebraska-Kearney (6) and Augustana (7).

While the top-8 teams make the regional tournament, no Great American Conference team is currently ranked in the top-10, but the conference champion will receive an automatic bid. Should the GAC champion not be ranked in the top-8, they would bump a ranked team out of the tournament.

Missouri Western will have chances to improve its regional ranking with a home match against sixth ranked Nebraska-Kearney on Nov. 8 and a chance for redemption on the road at Central Missouri on Nov. 14 in the team’s final regular season contest.

The Griffons will look to match the most MIAA wins in school history (14) on Friday when they travel to Southwest Baptist.

Regional Record    Overall Record
1    Minnesota Duluth    19-0    22-1
2    Concordia-St. Paul    15-2    20-3
3    Southwest Minnesota State    12-5    16-7
4    Central Missouri    15-3    15-8
5    Wayne State (NE)    18-4    20-4
6    Nebraska- Kearney    21-2    21-2
7    Augustana (SD)    14-8    15-8
8    Missouri Western State    18-5    18-5
9    Washburn    18-4    18-4
10    Winona State    14-5    15-6

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s soccer team has moved up one spot in the NCAA Central Region poll after going 1-1 over the weekend. Missouri Western now sits eighth in the poll, needing to move into the top-6 to make the regional tournament.

The program is experiencing is best season in school history, winning a record ninth game of the season on Sunday against Lindenwood.

A five-game winning streak is also a program high along with the team’s eight shutout victories. Head Coach Chad Edwards also became the program’s all-time wins leader earlier this season and continues to add to his record.

The Griffons have clinched their first ever birth in the MIAA Tournament and a tournament championship would boost them into the regional tournament.

Four Missouri Western seniors will be honored Friday night at 7 p.m. when the team plays its final regular season home match against Northwest Missouri State.

In-Region    Overall
1    Minn. St. Mankato    16-0-0    16-0-0
2    Central Mo.    15-0-1    15-0-1
3    Augustana (SD)    13-3-0    13-3-0
4    Winona St.    13-2-1    13-2-1
5    Southwest Baptist    13-3-0    13-3-0
6    Central Okla.    10-4-2    10-4-2
7    Fort Hays St.    10-4-2    10-4-2
8    Mo. Western St.    9-6-1    9-6-1
9    Bemidji St.    9-5-1    9-5-1
10    Upper Iowa    9-5-1    9-5-1

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western volleyball team shook off a loss over the weekend with a dominant 3-0 victory over Lindenwood Tuesday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The Griffons dominated all three sets, winning 25-18, 25-19, 25-13.

The win moves Missouri Western to 19-5 overall and 13-3 in MIAA play. The 13 conference wins are the most for the program since the 1995 team went 14-4 in the MIAA.

MWSU hit .400 as a team and held Lindenwood to a .107 team hitting percentage. Jessie Thorup hit .556 with 16 kills and Kelsey Olion hit .500 with 12 kills. Erica Rottinghaus had nine kills and 13 digs with Sarah Faubel  chipping in 13 digs. Jordan Chohon finished with 41 assists.

The Griffons hit the road this weekend for matchups with Southwest Baptist on Friday and Pittsburg State on Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s soccer team outlasted Lindenwood on Sunday at Spratt Stadium as they defeated Lindenwood in double overtime 2-1.  The Griffons improve their record to 9-6-1 overall and 6-5-1 in conference.

In the first half, Lindenwood was able to get a quick strike in the ninth minute of the game with a goal coming from Becky Roberts just outside the box.  She capitalized on a deflected ball to put her seventh goal of the season in the back of the net. The Griffons were held in check for the half only creating two shots on goal. Sydney Cluck and K.C. Ramsell each tallied one.

Missouri Western was able to create opportunities early in the second half with two Sydney Andrews’s free kicks. Andrews hit the crossbar on one shot and sent the other just wide of the goal. The Griffons found the back of the net in the 68th minute of the game when freshman Ashlyn Powers scored her first goal of the season and career.

In overtime, Sydney Andrew made the most of her free kick opportunity striking a laser from the 45 yard mark over the goalkeepers head. The goal was Andrews’s second of the year.

Sarah Lyle recorded two saves on the day to help the Griffons secure the victory.

The Griffons will play their final regular season home game against Northwest Missouri State this Friday 7:00 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Emporia State football team capitalized on four turnovers and 11 Missouri Western penalties to stun the Griffons 30-10 on Homecoming at MWSU.

Missouri Western had its best offensive output of the season, outgaining the Hornets 509-335 but were hurt by 135 yards in penalties, three interceptions and a fumble. Two missed field goals also loomed large in the team’s second straight loss to Emporia State.

Skyler Windmiller completed 26 of his 51 passes for a career-high 339 yards and one touchdown. Stephon Weaver and Josh Walker became the second and third receivers to have 100 yard games in the last two weeks. Weaver finished with three catches for 114 yards and Walker had six receptions for 108. Raphael Spencer turned in another 100 yard performance, netting 108 yards on 23 carries.

Stephen Juergens led the defense with nine total tackles, followed by eight from Michael Jordan. Cody Lindsay finished with seven tackles, 2.5 for loss with 1.5 sacks.

The Griffons fall to 5-3 on the year and head to Maryville to take on Northwest Missouri State next saturday at 1:00 PM.

— MWSU Sports Information —