KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Brayden Clews-Proctor has been named the MIAA co-Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Week, as announced by the league office Tuesday afternoon. The freshman helped the Bearcats earn a second place finish in Saturday’s Lewis Conference Crossover in Romeoville, Ill. He shares the honor with Southwest Baptist’s Drew Cargill.

The Canberra, Australia native earned a 14th place finish after completing the eight-kilometer course in a season-best 25:12.11. Clews-Proctor has consistently been one of the the top-five scorers for the Bearcats this season.

Clews-Proctor is the second Bearcat to earn these honors after Nolan Zimmer received the same award following his week one victory at the 2015 Bearcat Open on Sept. 4.

Northwest, the fourth-ranked men’s team in the Central Region, will return to the starting line in two weeks when it heads to Hays, Kan. for the MIAA Championships on Saturday, Oct. 24.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State soccer team rallied from a first half deficit to tie Washburn, 1-1 at Yager Stadium in Topeka

The Bearcats are now 2-6-3 this season and 1-4-1 in the MIAA, while the Ichabods move to 3-6-3 overall and 2-3-1 against conference opponents.

Senior Anna Holden scored her third goal of the year and 11th all-time, moving her into a tie for sixth in career goals at Northwest.

Holden led the way for the Bearcat offense, taking six shots and putting three on frame.

Elizabeth Lee made eight saves in the match, including several diving stops. The senior lunged to her left to make a critical stop in overtime to keep the score level.

The Ichabods opened the scoring in the 20th minute after they converted on a penalty kick.  Then in the 56th minute, Katelynn Lindsey stepped up to strike a free kick into the box from near midfield. The keeper tried to punch it away, but the ball stayed inside the six yard box where Holden was there to send it across the line to level the score.

Northwest Missouri State will return home to play Fort Hays State on Friday. The match is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. from Bearcat Pitch.

— Northwest Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – October 16 at Washburn will be the most important match so far this season for the Northwest Missouri State volleyball team.

After seven straight home matches, the Bearcats head on the road for four matches with their confidence shaken just a little. Northwest lost for the third time in four matches Saturday evening when it fell 25-16, 25-19, 25-19 to No. 11 ranked Central Missouri at Bearcat Arena.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Bearcats. Northwest, 11-6 overall and 4-3 in the MIAA, will take on a Washburn team that is 17-2, 5-2 and ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II.

“It is very important because we have had a lot of home games in a row and now we are basically going to be road warriors and we will have to hold our own,” said sophomore Alexis Williams who led Northwest with 10 kills. We will try to take someone else’s home away from them.”

Another way to look at the upcoming match is it is a great opportunity for Northwest to prove to Washburn and the rest of the MIAA that it belongs in the conversation of being one of the better teams in conference.

“We need it,” Woerth said. “We are going to find out what we are made of and that’s when you grow the most. I don’t coach to play teams we know we can beat 25-8. I coach to play teams like this because that is going to make us better.

“It is all part of the process. You gain most of your lessons when you lose, not when you win. Responding next week is going to be really important.”

With their backs against the wall in the third set against Central, the Bearcats demonstrated enough ability and fire to stay with the Jennies most of the set. It was tied 12-12 before Central slowly stretched its lead to 18-14 and then 21-15.

“When we are down, we have to know we can push forward and to keep the ball alive and try to win,” Williams said.

Northwest started the match pumped up. Junior Jackie Becker got it started with a kill for the first point. The Bearcats scored the first two points and appeared ready to take down Central.

Five straight points by the Jennies turned a 3-2 deficit into a 7-3 lead. Northwest got back on track and pulled to within one at 9-8 and 10-9. Central, though, took control by scoring 10 of the next 11 points for a 20-10. The Bearcats never threatened again in the opening set.

Once again, Northwest scored the first point to start a set on a kill by sophomore Alexis Williams. Central scored the next four, forcing Northwest to play from behind the rest of the set.

“I don’t want to take anything away from them because they continue to put pressure on you,” Woerth said. “What can we take away from it? We have to step up to pressure.

“They are always known to have great serve to receive. The side out at a high percentage and they don’t make a lot hitting errors. Our players needed to step up and rise to the occasion.”

— David Boyce, Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University volleyball team earned a 3-0 sweep over Lindenwood on Friday at Bearcat Arena in Maryville, Mo.

Northwest hit .298 for the match and moved to 11-5 overall and 4-2 in MIAA play. The Lions fall to 8-8 overall and 1-5 in conference action.

Three Bearcats recorded double-digit kill totals led by Maddy Bruder (18), Jackie Becker (11) and Miranda Foster (10).

Bruder hit .545 and did not record an attacking error in the winning effort. She tied for a match high with 13 digs defensively.

Northwest Missouri State will host No. 11 Central Missouri at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10. Admission to the match will be free at Bearcat Arena.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State soccer team lost Friday’s match at Emporia State, 3-0.

The Bearcats fall to 2-6-2 this season and 1-4 in the MIAA, while the Hornets improved their record to 7-4 overall and 3-2 against conference foes.

Senior Elizabeth Lee made seven saves in her debut in goal.

Chelsea Fournier had a good look at goal midway through the first half, taking a shot from the top of the box to the far post, forcing the keeper to make a diving save. The junior finished with two shots.

Northwest Missouri State will travel to Topeka, Kan. on Sunday, Oct. 11 for a 1 p.m. matchup with the Washburn Ichabods.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University golf team placed second in its home Bearcat Fall Classic on Monday at Mozingo Lake Golf Course in Maryville, Mo.

Freshman Kaleigh Ashen was second overall and set a Northwest individual record with a round of 72. Cassie Lowell and Steph Charteris had the previous record at 73.

Ashen’s total of 152 also tied Lowell for the lowest 36 round score in Northwest history. Lowell accomplished the feat twice during the 2012 season.

The Bearcats’ combined two-day total of 641 is the second lowest in program history. The 2012 team shot a 627 at the Ottawa Invitational on Sept. 17-18.

Meredith Turner shot a 157 with a final round of 74. She tied for fourth individually but was awarded fifth on the tiebreak.

The tournament featured eight schools and 56 total participants.

Iowa Western won the team event with a 630. Sena Ersoy of Iowa Western won the individual title with a 143 (-1).

Northwest Scores
2. Northwest Missouri – 316 – 325 – 641
2. Kaleigh Ashen – 80 – 72 – 152
6. Brooke Byland – 77 – 81 – 158
t13. Maddie Propst – 79 – 87 – 166
t19. Gia Zupancic – 80 – 88 – 168
t23. Nikki McCurdy – 84 – 85 – 169

— Northwest Athletics —

After trailing by a goal at the break, the Northwest Missouri State soccer team rallied to capture a 2-1 victory over Missouri Southern Sunday afternoon in Maryville.

The win moves the Bearcats to 2-5-2 this season and 1-3 in the MIAA, while the Lions fall to 2-8 overall and 0-4 in the conference.

Anna Holden’s goal in the 50th minute was the tenth of her career, making her the 12th Bearcat to reach double-digits at Northwest.

The Bearcats controlled possession for much of the contest, limiting the Lions to seven shots and just three on frame.

Senior Anna Holden took two shots back to back in the 50th minute with the second finding the back of the net.
After an attempt from Ashley Cole was saved, Holden cleaned up the rebound when the keeper was not able to maintain possession.

Katelynn Lindsey scored on her only shot of the game, the senior’s first goal at Northwest.

Ashley Malloy made two saves to keep the Bearcats within striking distance.

Northwest will hit the road on Friday when they travel to play Emporia State under the lights. The match is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. from Emporia, Kan.

— Northwest Athletics —

After falling behind two sets, the Northwest Missouri State volleyball team’s rally fell a few points short, losing to #14 Central Oklahoma, 3-1.

The loss leaves the Bearcats with a 10-4 record overall and 3-1 in the conference, while the Bronchos improve to 15-1 and 4-0 in MIAA play.

Maddy Bruder led the Bearcats’ attack, totaling 22 kills. The freshman added six digs and one assist.

Junior Jackie Becker totaled 10 kills and accumulated a .364 hitting percentage. Becker added one block assist on defense.

Miranda Foster contributed 14 kills, eight digs and three block assists.  Setter Sarah Dannettell tallied 49 assists, nine digs, one block assist and two service aces.  Libero Aarika Wittenburg had a game-high 18 digs while tossing up two assists.

The Bearcats hit .221 on the day. Their best set was the third, where they hit at a .293 clip.

Northwest Missouri State returns to the court for a midweek contest when they host Missouri Western on Tuesday. The match will begin at 7 p.m. inside Bearcat Arena.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State soccer team came up a goal short in Sunday’s contest at Central Oklahoma, losing 2-1.

With the loss, the Bearcats drop to 1-4-2 overall and 0-2 in the conference, while the Bronchos improve to 4-3-1 this season and 1-0-1 in MIAA play.

Anna Holden scored her first goal of the season in the 88th minute.

Holden attempted two shots in the match, both of which were on frame. The senior has now scored nine goals in her career, tied for 12th all-time at Northwest.

Sophomore Ashley Malloy made 10 saves in the contest, giving her an MIAA-best 60 this season.

The Bearcats will return home for another MIAA contest against Southwest Baptist on Friday. The game is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. from Bearcat Pitch.

— Northwest Athletics —