ST. JOSEPH & SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  --  After three straight home games, the Miners are hitting the road this week for their first road games of the season.

About the Griffons:
Missouri Western is 3-0-1 at this point in the season and 1-0 against Great Lakes Valley Conference teams, having beaten William Jewell 3-0 last week. The team is led by second year head coach Jacob Plocher. Plocher led the team to a 5-8-6 record last season, making the MIAA tournament but falling in the first round to Washburn.

Senior Lauren Nylund has stepped up as the team's leading goal scorer this season in the wake of last season's goal-leader, Jaden Skinner, graduating. Nylund has recorded four goals so far this year, one in each of the first four contests.

The Griffons will face Rockhurst today at 7pm.
 
About the Panthers:
Just like Missouri Western, Drury is 3-0-1, although that record will change before Sunday's match against the Miners, as the Panthers are set to face both Emporia State and Lincoln (MO) before then.

Head Coach Justin Olson has a strong career record with the Panthers at 39-18-15. Olson has the Panthers near the top of the conference statistically, as Drury is in the top five in the GLVC for goals scored, shots taken, and save percentage.

The Panthers had nine players score multiple goals last season and they are off to a good start with five goal scorers in the first four matches, three of which have multiple goals. Last season's leading goal-scorer, Kourtney Tucker, is leading the way again, putting up 2 goals as well as an assist for a team-high 5 points.
 
About the Miners:
S&T grabbed their first win in Coach Matthew Perry's tenure on Sunday, taking down the Lincoln Blue Tigers 2-1 with a last second game-winning goal by Melissa Parker (Chesterfield, MO/Marquette) with 0:09 on the clock. Greycen Erisman (Lee's Summit, MO/Lee's Summit West) recorded 3 points in the match; she is the first player to do so since Beth Roberts (Lake St. Louis, MO/Liberty) did on October 1, 2023 against William Jewell.

Asia Barcom was back in goal for the Miners on Sunday, getting 4 saves on 5 on-goal attempts by the Blue Tigers for a season-high .800 save percentage.

The Miners are carrying a winning series record into their match against Missouri Western, having won both of the previous meetings, the most recent of which was a 2-1 victory in 2007. Their series against Drury has historically not had the same level of success, going 4-15-7 all-time against the Panthers. Although the Miners have not won a match in the series since 2018, the Panthers have not one since 2021, with the last two matches ending in a draw.

What's Next:
The team will be making a couple of trips over to St. Louis next week, taking on Maryville and Missouri-St. Louis on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

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