Season Ends Next Weekend in Hays and Emporia
Kearney, Neb. – The Missouri Southern State Lions headed in a corner to defeat Nebraska Kearney, 1-0, Sunday afternoon at Ron & Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field. This was the home finale for the Lopers with nine seniors being honored after the game. On a windy fall day, the Blue & Gold had a chance to break the ice seconds before halftime as a free kick from senior Lily Enegman (Overland Park, Kan.) landed just outside the box and bounced over several Lions and Lopers. The ball found freshman Corynne Olson (Lincoln Southeast) in the right box with her shot sailing over the crossbar. "It was tough result. We had some opportunities but didn't capitalize," said UNK head coach Rob Breton. "It seems to be the reoccurring theme this year of just not being lethal in front of the goal. Some of it we can teach, some of it has to be discovered within ourselves." In the 56th minute after a UNK throw in on its half of the field, MSSU (2-12-1, 2-6-1) saw sophomore forward Ella Durocher intercept a Loper pass. She then broke away from the defense but sophomore keeper Mackenzie Smith (Lincoln H.S.) came out and stopped her shot. However, the deflection led to a corner taken by sophomore by Maya Greenquiest. Her ball landed in the center box where a leaping senior Ashley Koepp headed it in for her third goal of the fall. She led the team in shots with four. "That was a great corner kick, a great set piece. It's progress as we're not getting beat in live play but we have to do a better job on corners and crosses and finishing our own chances," said Breton. UNK had several chances to tie the game late but Mo Southern senior keeper Riley Laver recorded a save on a shot taken by freshman Mia Lang (Papillion-La Vista South) in the 84th minute with sophomore Dolcie Hanlon (Grand Junction, Colo.) having her shot go wide right four minutes later. "After we got down, it took us about 20 minutes to realize we could step up and high press. When we play with urgency, we play with frantic urgency rather than intent," said Breton. "It's the little things and I think it came down to the anxiety of being Senior Day and wanting to get that result for them." UNK got a shot on goal from senior Isabella Whiston (Lincoln). She is part of a rare 12-member senior class with Engeman, Cammie Davis (Wichita) and Raegan Downham (Cheyenne, Wyo.) planning on returning for a fifth year in 2023. "They've all been here a long time and been through a tough career. They stuck it out, showed up and committed to a change with me. They were ready to be the difference makers this year and you can't say enough good things about each one of them individually," said Breton. The Lopers finish up the season next weekend with games at Fort Hays State and Emporia State. Loper Seniors 2022 #1 Eden Miura (Las Vegas) #2 Aleya Snyder (Omaha Mercy) #6 Madeline Lecuona (Omaha/Millard West) #8 Sierra Rohs (Wichita, Kan.) #11 Payton Rhen (Omaha Skutt) #12 Isabella Whiston (Lincoln East) #21 Caralee Legg (Topeka, Kan.) #24 Hannah Hardy (Kearney) #28 Molly Platt (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)
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