PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's soccer team is set to host the Emporia State University Hornets and Washburn University Ichabods this weekend at the Gorilla Soccer Pitch.

Friday (Oct. 10), the Gorillas will host ESU at 2:00 p.m. (CT) and Sunday (Oct. 12), Pitt State will host WU at 1:00 p.m.

Last season, the Gorillas notched a 1-0 road win over Emporia State from a 53rd minute outside the 18-yard box strike from McKenna Robinson. Against Washburn last season, the Ichabods claimed a 3-0 home win over Pitt State on their way to clinching the MIAA regular season crown for the second year in a row.

Pitt State is listed in the Top-10 of the USC (United Soccer Coaches) Division II Central Region Poll (Oct. 7) for the third week in a row, moving up to No. 8 after being No.10 the prior two weeks. Other MIAA teams listed in the Central Region Poll are Central Missouri (2nd), Northwest Missouri (3rd), Missouri Western (4th), Emporia State (9th) and Northeastern State (10th).
 
Picked to finish seventh in the MIAA Preseason Poll, the Gorillas are 8-1-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the MIAA, leading the MIAA standings after four matches with 10 points. As a team, the Gorillas have scored a league-leading 26 goals (2.60), while ranking fourth in fewest opponent goals scored with seven (0.70).

Among Division II ranks Pittsburg State is ninth in the division for corner kicks per game (7.20) and shots per game (20.3), 13th in total assists (24), 14th in winning percentage (.850), 15th in assists per game (2.40), 16th in goals scored (26), 18th in scoring offense (2.60) and shots on goal per game (9.50).

Ella Cazzavillan is the team leader for points (10) with four goals and two assists, while having a pair of game-winning goals. Sailor Jensen, the reigning MIAA Defender of the Week, leads the MIAA and is tied for second in Division II among defenders with four goals scored. Danae Hobson and Mia Hunt have scored three goals and provided an assist. Carrie Cunningham, Shayla Hunt, Annie Payne and Dylann Ehegartner have scored twice this season. Cazzavillan and Cunningham are joined by Livi Jones, Abby Hoffman and Ann Boehnlein with two assists provided this season. In goal, Jocelyn Kramar in 824:25 minutes is 8-0-1 with five shutouts, 15 saves and a 0.44 GAA. Kramar is the league leader for GAA and tied for the league-best mark in shutouts, ranking 14th in Division II for shutouts and 18th for GAA.

Emporia State enters the weekend with a 6-3 overall record, going 3-0 in the MIAA for nine points to be tied for second in the league standings. This season the Hornets are 3-2 on the road with losses to No. 14 Drury (1-0, Sept. 4) and Regis (3-1, Sept. 19). Last week the Hornets dispatched of Fort Hays State, 5-2 behind a trio of second-half goals. Among MIAA ranks, ESU is tied for third in goals scored with 20 and eighth in fewest opponent goals scored with 10.

Ella Favot leads the team with five goals and 11 points, with eight of her 15 shots being on goal. Megan Kephart, Hailey Gancarz, Madeline Bracy, Peyton Pipes and Avery Zimmerman are the other Hornets to scored multiple goals this season. Kephart is the team leader with four assists, Gancarz is second on the team with three assists and Aubrey Seltman is the final member of the team to provide more than one assist this season. Mackenzi Goen in 630:00 minutes has a 4-3 record with one shutout, 24 saves and a 1.43 GAA.

Washburn will begin the weekend with a 5-2-2 overall record, 2-0-1 in the MIAA for seven points to be fifth in the league standings. So far this season on the road the Ichabods are 2-1-2 with a 3-0 loss to Missouri - St. Louis (Sept. 6) and ties against No. 25 Maryville (1-1, Sept. 4) and Central Oklahoma (0-0, Sept. 26). Among MIAA, ranks, WU is tied for eighth in goals scored with 11 and seventh for fewest opponent goals scored with nine.

Leah Menke is the team leader with five goals and 11 points, firing off 19 shots with 11 being shot on goal. Sam Searcey, Kate Hinck and Shaye Taylor round out the scoring effort for the team with the trio scoring two goals each. Belle Kennedy is the team leader with two assists with five other Ichabods recording an assist. Lili Everley in 691:04 minutes in goal has a 5-1-2 reocrd with four shutouts, 17 saves and a 0.65 GAA.