UNK Battles Regionally-Ranked E-State
Kearney, Neb. – The Emporia State Hornets kept its NCAA Tournament hopes alive by beating Nebraska Kearney, 4-0, Friday afternoon in Kansas. E-State improves to 8-5-4 (6-1-3) and takes the season series from the Lopers. The Hornets were one of seven MIAA squads in the first edition of the NCAA Central Region Rankings. They are now tied for second in the league with 21 points. UNK was out shot by just a 9-4 margin over the first 45 minutes with the only goal from either team coming at 20:49. Senior Lily Engeman (Olathe, Kan.) saw her free kick bounce and saved by ESU keeper Tori Bailey at 19:19. That was the Lopers first shot of the game; they had a corner just 2:19 into the action. Soon after Engeman's kick, the Hornets were in the Lopers third with senior Hannah Woolery eventually getting loose in the box. Despite slipping on the natural grass surface, she managed to poke the ball into the net for her 11th goal of the fall. The Lopers had another corner soon after as well as two shots by freshman Kea Barnes (Aurora, Colo.) and one by senior Payton Rhen (Omaha Skutt). However, each shot was high or went wide with the corner yielding no action. Emporia extended its lead early in the second half when graduate Aislinn Hughes headed in a corner taken by senior Joanie Westcoat with All-American Mackenzie Dimarco putting things on ice thanks to a breakaway goal in the 64th minute. That is her 14th goal of the year with Woolery then assisting on a goal from freshman Mikayla Lampe at 82:51. UNK heads to 22nd-ranked Fort Hays State (9-1-7, 4-1-5) on Sunday to close out the 2022 season. The Tigers were upset tonight in Topeka by Washburn, 1-0.
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