#20 Women's Soccer Prepares For Conference Opener Friday

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman Women's Soccer team moved up three spots to #20 in the latest United Soccer Coaches Division II Top 25 poll. The Bulldogs will open up Great Lakes Valley Conference action this weekend at home when they face Lewis University on Friday and the University of Southern Indiana on Sunday.

Friday's match starts at 1 p.m. and Sunday's kickoff is slated for noon.

The Bulldogs were the only GLVC team among the nation's elite and were ranked second in the Midwest region behind #3 Grand Valley (Mich.) State.

The team remained perfect on the season but needed a little magic on Sunday to do so. After a 2-0 victory over Northwest Missouri State on Friday, the Bulldogs found themselves trailing for the first time in 2018 when Upper Iowa scored three minutes into their match.

Faith Branson notched her first collegiate goal with just over three minutes left in the first half on a pass from Hanna Burke to tie things up.

Both teams had chances in the second and the match moved to extra time. Beth Hopwood made two saves for Truman in the first 10 minutes and another early in the second before Burke capitalized on a Peacock foul 20-yards out. Burke buried the free kick for the winner. It was her first goal of the year and gave Truman an overtime win. It was the first OT winner by the Bulldogs since a September 2016 match against Bellarmine, a span of eight overtime matches.

The Bulldogs head into conference as one of only three unbeaten teams in the league. McKendree was 2-0 and Maryville is 1-0-2. Truman is third in the league in shots per game at 16.2 and second in goals scored with 10. McKendree has not allowed a goal in their two games played while Truman has allowed just the one in their four matches.

Beth Hopwood was named the GLVC Defender of the Week for the second straight week. Hopwood has a 0.24 goals against average and has stopped 17 of the 18 opponent shots on goal.

Eleven Bulldogs have points this season offensively led by Burke's five. Katie Vollmer and Hanna Liljegren have two goals apiece to be the leaders but Truman has goals from eight different players.

Lewis is led by Kailey Parnello. The Flyers forward is second in the conference in shots taken with 5.2 per game and has three goals in four matches. She has taken 21 shots this season with no other player taking more than 10. Lewis is 1-1-2 overall picking up their win in their last outing against Northern Michigan 1-0. In goal, Bri Riscossa and Lucy Clark have split time almost evenly. Clark has given up four goals and made six saves while Riscossa has allowed two goals and made four saves.

Last year in Romeoville, a flurry of goals in the middle of the match resulted in a 2-2 tie. Sidney Riemer and Parnello had goals for the Flyers while Paige Peterson scored both Truman goals unassisted. The two teams are accustomed to ties with four of them in their six matches played.

Southern Indiana will roll into Kirksville following their match at home with Drury on Friday. They are 1-2-1 on the young year with three goals scored and nine goals allowed. Madelyne Juenger has assisted on all three USI goals this season. Emily Hopkins has allowed eight goals (1.87 GAA) on 27 shots on goal.

Last year, USI got two goals from Taylor McCormick in defeating the Bulldogs at home 2-1. Laura Ney scored off a corner kick to put Truman up 1-0 20 minutes into the match. Both USI goals came off of rebounds. Truman is 6-2 all-time against the Screaming Eagles with a 4-0 record in matches played in Kirksville.

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Players Mentioned

#22 Hanna Burke: M; 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore

#23 Hanna Liljegren: M; 5' 2"; Junior

#30 Laura Ney: D; 5' 8"; Senior

#15 Paige Peterson: M; 5' 7"; Sophomore

#0 Beth Hopwood: GK; 5' 7"; Freshman

#3 Faith Branson: F; 5' 6"; Freshman

#16 Katie Vollmer: M; 5' 6"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#22 Hanna Burke
: 5' 7"; Redshirt Sophomore
: M

#23 Hanna Liljegren
: 5' 2"; Junior
: M

#30 Laura Ney
: 5' 8"; Senior
: D

#15 Paige Peterson
: 5' 7"; Sophomore
: M

#0 Beth Hopwood
: 5' 7"; Freshman
: GK

#3 Faith Branson
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: F

#16 Katie Vollmer
: 5' 6"; Freshman
: M