2020-21 Great Midwest Women's Soccer Championship Bracket
CANTON, Ohio -- The Malone University women's soccer program has qualified for the 2020-21 Great Midwest Women's Soccer Championship Tournament. The Pioneers enter play as the No. 7 seed, and face a rematch with their final opponent from the regular season, the No. 2 seeded Ohio Dominican University Panthers
The Matchup: (#7) Malone University Pioneers (5-5-1, 4-5-1 G-MAC) at (#2) Ohio Dominican University Panthers (6-1-2, 6-1-2 G-MAC)
Where: Ohio Dominican University - Panther Stadium
When: 5:30 p.m.
Live Stats: Great Midwest Digital Network
Live Video: Great Midwest Digital Network
MALONE-OHIO DOMINICAN SOCCER SERIES
The Pioneers and Panthers have played 18 times prior to this evening's tournament game, including just seven days ago in the regular season finale. Malone is 6-11-1 all-time against Ohio Dominican.
ODU won the lone meeting last year 2-1 in a match played in Columbus.
The teams played to a 1-1 draw in 2017, and the last win for the Pioneers came back in 2002, a 2-1 win in a match also played in Columbus.
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE PIONEERS
- Malone University has clinched a bid into the postseason for the second consecutive year. Last season the Pioneers were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the University of Findlay.
-
Heading into postseason play Madeline Ault is still at the top of the conference with five goals scored. She is tied with four other players. Ault also has two assists on the year giving her a season total of 12 points. That mark is also tied for the top spot in the G-MAC.
-
As a team Malone's offense is tied with ODU for fourth in the conference with 13 goals scored. For the Pioneers the attack was well-balanced. Seven different players contributed at least one goal. Sally Culig, who found the back of the net three times, was the only other player besides Ault to score multiple goals this year.
- A big part of the Pioneers success was their accuracy. Malone got off 133 shots this year. 68 of those shots were on goal. Keeley Malley sits tied for the G-MAC lead with 21 shots on goal this year.
-
Malone's defense has been anchored by Jessica Morgan. She has played all 847:28 since missing the opening two matches due to injury. Morgan has totaled 49 saves this year, and had a shutout in the win over Tiffin.
KNOW YOUR OPPONENT
Last weekend's 1-0 victory over the Pioneers was the second win in a row for the Panthers. ODU won four out of their last six matches coming down the stretch in the regular season.
It took a win on the final day of the regular season for the University of Findlay to unseat the Panthers as the regular season G-MAC champions.
ODU has the league's second-best scoring margin at 1.22. They scored 13 goals and surrendered only 2. Earlier this season the Panthers enjoyed a stretch in which they did not concede a goal during a 580-minute stretch of play.
Offensively Ohio Dominican is led by sophomore Callan Myers. She is tied for the G-MAC lead with five goals scored this year.
Defensively freshman Jadelyn McNerney led the way with 814:11 played in goal. She has a .944 save percentage and boasts just a 0.22 goal against mark.
WHAT'S NEXT
The winner of tonight's game will advance to the semifinal round on Thursday and play the winner of the No. 6 seed Trevecca Nazarene University and No. 3 seed Cedarville University.
Regardless of this evening's outcome, both of the semifinal matches (Thursday, April 29) and the final match (Saturday, May 1) will be played at Ohio Dominican University.
To keep up to date with everything surrounding the Malone University athletic programs this year follow the Pioneers on Twitter and Instagram, like Malone University Athletics on Facebook or visit malonepioneers.com.
