PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's soccer team will return to the friendly confines of the Gorilla Soccer Pitch for the final time during the regular season this weekend.
 
Pittsburg State will host Missouri Western on Friday (Oct. 24) at 12:00 pm. (Noon) (CT) and honor four seniors in a pre-match ceremony before the 1:00 p.m. kickoff on Sunday (Oct. 26) against Northwest Missouri.
 
Last week the Gorillas picked up a key 3-1 road win over Newman (Oct. 17), pushing the conference points tally up to 14.
 
Pitt State is listed in the Top-10 of the USC (United Soccer Coaches) Division II Central Region Poll (Oct. 21) for the fifth week in a row, staying at No. 10. The Gorillas on Sept. 23 and Sept. 30 were ranked No. 10 before moving up to No. 8 on Oct. 7 and moving back to No. 10 for the Oct. 14 poll. Other MIAA teams listed in the Central Region Poll are Central Missouri (2^nd), Northwest Missouri (3^rd), Missouri Western (4^th) and Washburn (6^th).
 
Picked to finish seventh in the MIAA Preseason Poll, the Gorillas are 9-2-2 overall and 4-1-2 in the MIAA, tied for fourth in the MIAA standings with 14 points. As a team the Gorillas, have scored 29 goals (2.23) and allowed opponents to score 10 (0.77). Among MIAA ranks, the scoring offense is first in the league and fourth in opponents goals per game.
 
Among Division II ranks Pittsburg State is eighth in corner kicks per game (6.85), ninth in shots per game (19.69), 15^th in shots on goal per game (9.15), 21^st in assists per game (2.08) and 22^nd in total assists (27).
 
Jocelyn Kramar in 1094:25 minutes has allowed seven goals for a 0.58 GAA with 19 saves, six shutouts and a 9-1-2 record. Ella Cazzavillan leads the team with four goals and three assists with 29 shots and 12 shots on goal while having a pair of game winning goals. Sailor Jensen (4), Carrie Cunningham (3), Mia Hunt (3), Danae Hobson (3), Shayla Hunt (3), Dylann Ehegartner (2), Hailey Green (2) and Annie Payne (2) are the other Gorillas with multiple goals scored this season. Abby Hoffman (3), Cunningham (2), M. Hunt (2), Livi Jones (2) and Ann Boehnlein (2) are the other members of the team with multiple assists.
 
Missouri Western enters the week with a 8-1-3 overall record, 4-1-2 in the MIAA for 14 points to be tied with Pitt State and Emporia State for fourth in the conference standings. This season on the road, MWSU is 3-1-2 overall and 1-1-1 in MIAA contests. Last season, the Griffons claimed a 1-0 win over the Gorillas in Spratt Stadium from a 76^th minute goal from Sydney Hammett.
 
As a team, Missouri Western has scored 20 goals (1.66) and allowed a league-low five goals to opponents (0.42).
Morgan Byrd in 945 minutes has allowed five goals for a 0.48 GAA with 30 saves, while being a part of all eight shutouts this season for the Griffons and holding an 8-1-3 record. Kendall Knisley leads the team with four goals, four assists, 35 shots and 19 shots on goal. Rachyl Benavides (3), Aidyn Woodall (2), Camrin Peaslee (2) and Rosemary Pujado (2) are the other Griffons to score multiple goals this season. Woodall (3), Nicoletta Froehlich (3),  Peaslee (2) and Kaari Little (2) are the other members of the team to provide multiple assists this season.
 
Northwest Missouri will begin the week with a 9-3 overall record and sits atop the MIAA standings with 18 points, going 6-1 in conference play. This season on the road, NWMSU is 3-2 overall and 2-1 against MIAA opponents. Last season, Pitt State picked up a 1-0 win over the Bearcats at Bearcat Field. Jensen recorded her first goal as a Gorilla in the 56^th minute with McKenna Robinson picking up the assist.
 
As a team, Northwest Missouri has scored 18 goals (1.50) and allowed opponents to score 6 (0.50), tied for the second fewest allowed in the conference. Lily Ellis in 1080 minutes as the Bearcats goalkeeper this season has allowed six goals for a 0.50 GAA with 68 saves, eight shutouts and a 9-3 record. Makenna West is the leading goal scorer for NWMSU with five goals from 34 shots, 14 being shots on goal and is responsible for four game winning goals. Margaret Madden is second on the team wth four goals this season with Lillie Shaw the other Bearcat to eclipse two goals scored this season. Shaw is joined by Ximena Arnau and Abby Overbay as Bearcats to provide two assists this season.