NAIA Women's Soccer Opening Round Preview
OMAHA, Neb. – The No. 12 Midland University women's soccer team earned the right to host the 2019 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round as the No. 15 seed. The Opening Round is set to take place November 22-23 at Caniglia Field on the campus of University of Nebraska Omaha.
Midland welcomes No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) out of the Heart of America Conference and Rocky Mountain College out of the Cascade Collegiate Conference. MidAmerica Nazarene and Rocky Mountain College will face off on Friday at 2:00 p.m. with the winner advancing to face Midland on Saturday with kickoff set for 2:00 p.m.
How to Follow
Live Stats: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Tournament/
Live Stream: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/midland/
Twitter: @Midland_Sports ; @MidlandWSoccer
Scouting the Opposition
No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
The Pioneers enter the Opening Round with a record of 14-5 on the year. MidAmerica earned a second-place finish in the Heart of America Conference, and finished third in the HAC Tournament after a 3-2 semifinal loss to No. 22 Benedictine College. The conclusion of the regular-season saw eight Pioneers receiving All-Conference Honors (one third-team, five second-team, two first-team).
Much of MidAmerica's offense runs through two players as Maria Garcia has 12 goals and four assists on the year (28 points) and Savannah Moxley has nine goals and six assists (24 points). Additionally, the Pioneers have 13 players who have recorded at least one goal this season. Kailee Barnhard has started 16 games at goalkeeper while allowing 17 goals (1.13 goals against average). As a team, the Pioneers score 2.63 goals per game while holding their opponents to one goal per game.
Rocky Mountain College
The Battlin' Bears are returning to the NAIA postseason tournament for the first time since 2008. Rocky earned an at-large bid after a 13-4-2 season. Rocky won their way into the CCC Championship game before losing 2-1 to Eastern Oregon. Six players received All-Conference accolades with Lauryn Gamache earning CCC's Co-Offensive Player of the Year. Gamache was a first-team selection while two players were second-team honorees and three were honorable mention.
Gamache is the teams main offensive weapon after recording 17 goals and five assists (39 points) this season. The next closest player, Mhari Smith, has contributed six goals (12 points). Goalkeeper Maia Wetzel has earned 12 shutouts on the year which is a single-season record at Rocky Mountain College. Wetzel's .75 goals against average ranks 23rd in NAIA Division I this season. As a team, the Battlin' Bears produce 2.37 goals per game while holding their opponents to .79 goals per game.
About the Warriors
Awards Rolling In
After claiming the Great Plains Athletic Conference Regular Season and Postseason Tournament titles, the Warriors were rewarded with five first-team, two second-team, and one honorable mention selection to the All-Conference teams. Representing Midland on the All-GPAC First Team are Nayeli Rodriguez, Rachel Thigpen, Elena 'PT' Perez, Alaina Melanson, and Marley Farrell. Brittany Llanes and Harlee Zancanelli were both named to the second team while Hannah Stewart was honorable mention. Rodriguez was tabbed as the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year, while Rachel Thigpen was named the Hauff Mid-America Sports/GPAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year for the second-straight year.
The Streaks Continue
After topping No. 14 Hastings College 1-0 to earn the GPAC Tournament Championship, Midland's winning-streak has reach 14 games. The Warriors have not lost since September 21st and have not allowed a goal since October 5th. The shut-out streak has surpassed 990 minutes, and Midland now leads the NAIA in shutouts per game (.70) and total shutouts (14). Thigpen ranks second in the NAIA in goals against per game (.30). Midland's defense has allowed only 28 shots on goal through the last 11 contests.
Dynamic Duo
Seniors Nayeli Rodriguez and Elena 'PT' Perez have earned the right to be one of the most feared offensive duos in all of NAIA women's soccer. The two have accounted for 30 of the team's 57 goals this season, and both have earned GPAC Offensive Player-of-the-Year awards throughout their career (Rodriguez: 2018, 2019; Perez: 2017). Rodriguez has 70 career goals and 23 career assists while Perez has registered 54 goals and 20 assists in her Midland career.
Looking Ahead
The 45-team NAIA Opening Round will see 15 teams move on to join the host school, University of Mobile (Ala.), at the NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship final site in Orange Beach, Ala. The 36th annual championship will take place at the Orange Beach Sportsplex from December 2-7. Should Midland win their opening round matchup it will mark the second-consecutive year in which the Warriors have made it to the final site.