The soccer season is just getting underway, but the top-ranked Jennies still look like the team to beat after starting 4-0 for the fourth consecutive season.
“It’s always super exciting to have a start like 4-0,” said senior Courtney Killian. “But we have to keep looking at the games ahead so we don’t get over excited.”
The season began differently than most would have expected with the Jennies falling behind 2-0 in the first half to then-No. 17 Southwestern Oklahoma State. They would score three unanswered goals in the second half to down the Bulldogs 3-2.
Those two goals allowed equal the number of goals allowed by the Jennies in the entire 2017 regular season. These aren’t the same Jennies that shut out 15 different teams last season, but they proved in game one that they won’t give up when faced with such an unfamiliar situation.
The Jennies needed two overtimes to secure a victory over Augustana in their home-opener. The Vikings climbed out of a 2-0 hole to tie the game and a near 50-minute scoring drought ensued before senior forward Jada Scott was able to chip one past the attacking goalkeeper to get the win after 105 minutes of play.
Scott has been on fire to begin the season along with fellow forwards Killian and sophomore Makayla Toth. All three are tied for the team lead in goals with three apiece and have accounted for all but one of the Jennies goals this season. Killian said the offense has been good, but the entire team has been part of their success.
“Jada, Makayla and I work really well together and we’ve been putting it in the back of the net lately,” Killian said. “I think we’re clicking well, but a lot of it is coming from the midfield and building up from the back.”
In the Jennies second week of the season, junior goalkeeper Jordyn Atagi put on a clinic after a shaky first couple starts in which she allowed four goals. Atagi commanded the first two shutouts of her career in victories over St. Cloud State and then No. 13 Minnesota State Mankato. Atagi’s performance in week two earned recognition as the MIAA Goalkeeper of the Week and the United Soccer Coaches Player of the Week. Atagi said the defense has helped her settle into her role as the starter.
“Our whole defensive unit talks about being tough for the whole 90 minutes,” Atagi said. “I think we just keep reminding ourselves of that and we are keeping the ball out of the net.”
The Jennies remain atop the United Soccer Coaches Poll for the third consecutive week and are the lone MIAA team in the rankings. Central Missouri has won 30 straight games dating back to the beginning of last season, continuing to extend the program record for consecutive wins.
Atagi said the Jennies still have room for improvement despite the successful start to the season.
“There are some chances that we need to learn how to finish and some chances we need to start denying other teams,” Atagi said.
The Jennies will be in action twice this weekend with a home matchup with Northwest Missouri State Friday and a road game at Lindenwood Sunday. Central Missouri has won the last 16 meetings with the Bearcats dating back to 2010 and have shutout Northwest in 14 of those matchups.
Kick off with the Bearcats is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at the South Recreational Complex.