PITTSBURG – The Pittsburg State University women's soccer team will host its first MIAA Tournament match in program history on Sunday (Nov. 9) against Northeastern State University. Kickoff from the Gorilla Soccer Pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. (CT).
 
The MIAA Regular Season champions after going 9-1-2 against league opponents and No. 1 seed in the MIAA Tournament, the Gorillas in only their second year as a program enter the match with a 14-2-2 overall record.
  
The MIAA announced it's All-Conference teams and nine players and head coach Wes Branstetter received honors. In the second year of the program, Branstetter has directed the Gorillas to the No. 1seed in the MIAA Tournament and claimed the regular season crown.
 
Carrie Cunningham, Abby Hoffman, Sailor Jensen and Jocelyn Kramar were named onto the first-team with Cunningham being named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Year. Ella Cazzavillan and Livi Jones were named to the second-team, Mia Hunt was announced as a third-team selection while Avianna Gonzalez and Adelynn Phipps were named honorable mentions.
 
This season against Northeastern State, the Gorillas picked up a 1-0 win in Pittsburg (Oct. 5). Cazzavillan scored the game winner in the 11^th minute as Cunningham and Hoffman picked up assists, Kramar recorded the shutout in goal with five saves. As a team, Pitt State finished with 23 shots (10 on goal) compared to NSU with eight (five on goal).
 
Among Division II ranks the Gorillas are 10^th in corner kicks per game (6.67), 14^th in win-loss-tied percentage (.833), 19^th in shots per game (18.22), 31^st in shots on goal per game (8.33) and shutout percentage (.556), 33^rd in GAA (0.611), 37^th in total assists (30), 39^th in total goals (37), 44^th in assists per game (1.67) and 48^th in scoring offense (2.06).
 
Kramar in 1544:25 minutes in goal has a 0.47 GAA with eight goals allowed with 42 saves and 10 shutouts for a 14-1-2 record. Cunningham leads the team with five goals, 47 shots and 22 shots on goal while compiling three game winning goals. Cazzavillan (4), Dane Hobson (4), M. Hunt (4), Shayla Hunt (4), Jensen (4), Jones (3), Dylann Ehegartner (2), Hailey Green (2) and Annie Payne (2) are other members of the team to score more than once this season. Hoffman is the team leader for assists with five, Cazzavillan (3), Ann Boehnlein (2), Caruth (2), Cunningham (2), M. Hunt (2), S. Hunt (2) and Jones (2) round out the members of the team with multiple assists.

Pittsburg State on Wednesday (Nov. 5) was announced as the No. 3 team in the NCAA Division II Central Region and on Tuesday (Nov. 4) were listed in the United States Coaches Poll NCAA Division II Top-25 for the first time in program history at No. 24.
 
Northeastern State will enter the match with an 11-6-1 overall record and is the No. 8 seed in the tournament after finishing the regular season with a 6-5-1 MIAA record.
 
Sydney Taylor, a second-team All-MIAA performer leads the team with nine goals with 52 shots, 24 shots on goal and six game winning goals. Hannah Anderson (4), Olivia Burnes (3), Brynn Baldon (2), Brooke Dodd (2), Annabella Trotter (2) and Michaela Williamson (2) are the other RiverHawks to score more than once this season. Anderson leads the squad with four assists with Taylor (3), Baldon (3), Dodd (2) and Jaclyn Barritt (2) the other members of the team to provide multiple assists. Barritt joined Taylor as an All-MIAA performer, being named an honorable mention. In goal, Rebecca Partyka in 18 starts has played in 1503:30 minutes in goal for NSU for a 0.96 GAA with 16 goals allowed, 82 saves and four shutouts for a 11-6-1 record.