PITTSBURG - The Pittsburg State University women's soccer team will begin the MIAA Tournament, Sunday (Nov. 1) against the Missouri Western State University Griffons at the Gorilla Soccer Pitch at 1:00 p.m. (CT).
Pittsburg State ended the regular season 13-0-5, 7-0-5 in the MIAA to finish third in the conference standings and earn the right to host a quarterfinal match in the MIAA Tournament. For Pitt State, this will mark the second year in a row to host a quarterfinal match in the MIAA Tournament. Missouri Western ended the regular season at 8-3-7, 5-3-4 in the MIAA to secure the sixth seed for the MIAA Tournament. MWSU claimed the 2025 MIAA Tournament crown as the No. 4 seed with wins over Northwest Missouri, Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma.
This season the Gorillas as a team have scored 37 goals (2.06) while allowing two (0.11), collectively PSU has fired off 371 shots (20.6) with 169 being shots on goal (9.4) and 154 corner kicks taken (8.6). First-team All-MIAA midfielder,
Sammie Edwards lead the team with five goals and 12 points from 39 shots and 17 shots on goal, third-team All-MIAA forward
Ryann Caruth is second on the team with four goals and three assists for 11 points, while second-team All-MIAA performers,
Avianna Gonzalez and
Danae Hobson hav each contributed four assists and three goals for 10 points this season. Second-team All-MIAA defender,
Sarah Peyton Webb leads the team with six assists on the year with fellow second-team All-MIAA defender
Rose Harden also chipping in with two goals and an assist during the regular season. The MIAA Defensive Player of the Year,
Adelynn Phipps has helped the Gorillas record a shutout in 16-of-18 matches played this season alongside fellow first-team defender
Livi Jones in the heart of the back line.
Jocelyn Kramar, the unanimous MIAA Goalkeeper of the Year has a 0.12 GAA in 1507:55 minutes of action, recording 42 saves in 44 attempts while being part of all 16 shutouts this season.
Historically against Missouri Western, the Gorillas are 2-1-0 with both wins coming in Pittsburg. PSU in 2024 lost 1-0 on the road in St. Joesph, Mo., before posting a 2-0 win in 2025 and a 1-0 win on Senior Day (Oct. 18) earlier this fall.
Leading the charge for the Griffons this season is first-team All-MIAA midfielder, Kendall Knisley. Knisley leads the team with nine goals for 19 points from 39 shots, 18 of which have been on goal and scoring four game winning goals. Cadence Dobberstein was named second-team All-MIAA as a defender after logging over 1,400 minutes for the Griffons and helping the team allow 0.7 goals a game. Third-team All-MIAA performers were Morgan Byrd as a goalkeeper and Rosemary Pujado as a forward. Byrd allowed 13 goals in 1485:00 minutes in goal for a 0.79 GAA, recording 66 saves and playing a part in all eight shutouts for MWSU. Pujado in 12 matches recorded six assists to lead the team and fired off 14 shots, seven of which were on goal. Rounding out the All-MIAA performers for Missouri Western was Alexandra Milano as an honorable mention midfielder, Milano playing in over 1,100 minutes and recorded one goal from 18 shots, seven being on goal.
The winner of PSU - MWSU will advance to the MIAA Tournament semifinals on Friday (Nov. 6) at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kan., and play the winner of UCM - NWMSU at a time to be announced later.
