Women's Soccer | 11/3/2011 9:27:00 AM
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McPherson, Kan. – The McPherson College women’s soccer team opens Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament play Friday as the Bulldogs host Bethel College at 4:30 p.m. (CT) at McPherson Stadium. The Bulldogs (9-8-1, 6-2-1) earned the No. 3 seed, while the Threshers (6-11-0, 4-5-0) are seeded sixth. The match will air live on Macbullogs.com and through the KCAC Broadcast Network.
The Bulldogs are making their sixth consecutive appearance in the KCAC tournament, but are in search of their first championship. In 2007, McPherson reached their first and only tournament championship match, but fell 3-2 in penalty kicks to Kansas Wesleyan University.
McPherson enters the tournament winner of four of their last five, including three consecutive shutouts coming against Sterling College, Bethany College and Southwestern College. MC’s lone setback during the stretch came in their season finale, 3-2, against Kansas Wesleyan University.
In their first meeting with Bethel, the Bulldogs fell 1-0 despite controlling a majority possession. McPherson outshot Bethel 17-9, while holding a 4-2 edge in corner kicks, but failed to find the back of the net. Thresher forward Caryn Welch scored the match’s lone goal in the 45
th minute off an assist from Brooke Banning.
Bethel enters the tournament in opposite fashion to the Bulldogs, as the Threshers have dropped four of their last five with the squad’s only victory coming on Oct. 26 against Bethany College (4-3). Despite striking first in the 48
th minute, the Threshers fell in their season finale, 2-1, at Sterling College.
The winner of Friday’s McPherson-Bethel contest moves to the semifinals to face No. 2 Ottawa University on Tuesday, Nov. 8 at 7 p.m. (CT). Ottawa ended the season with an 8-7-3 overall record and 6-1-2 KCAC mark to earn the No. 2 seed.
The finals, which are being hosted by Bethany College, are set for 4 p.m. (CT) on Saturday, Nov. 12.
Scouting Bethel
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The Threshers are 3-5-0 away from home this season, including a 1-3-0 record during conference play. BC’s road victories came against Central Christian, Manhattan Christian and Friends.
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Opponents have outscored BC 9-5 over their last five matches, including shutout losses against Southwestern and at Saint Mary and Tabor.
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Froward Caryn Welch has proved to be the primary offensive threat for the Threshers with a KCAC-leading 15 goals this season. She is the only BC player with more than two.
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Goalkeeper Madison Wiles leads the KCAC with 116 saves on the year, while posting the conferences second best goals against average at 1.37. Additionally, Wiles owns four shutouts.
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As a team, Bethel has been outshot by their opponents 296-177, including a 173-96 advantage in the first half.
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Bethel averages 10.4 shots per game, while the Bulldogs average 13.2.
