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NAIA Match of the Week No. 8
Central Methodist (Mo.) (8-2-3, 1-2-0 HAAC) at�No. 18 Benedictine (Kan.) (12-1-0, 3-0-0 HAAC)
Sat., Oct. 18�|�5 p.m. CDT�| BC Soccer Complex�|Atchison, Kan.�
Since their 3-2 home loss to Hastings (Neb.) on Sept. 23 the most scores surrendered by Benedictine to date the Ravens are flying high, winning four-consecutive contests.�
Benedictine could be back on the right track thanks to the re-emergence of stifling defense, as the team has pitched a shutout in three of the last four matches.�
Overall, the Ravens recorded its eighth blanking of the season on Oct. 15 in a 3-0 win over Avila (Mo.).
Saturday's tilt is Homecoming and Senior Night for the Ravens. Eight players will say goodbye to the BC Soccer Complex, including goalkeeper Ashley Holland, who has been lights out this year protecting the net. She has allowed only eight scores in 13 matches, making 29 saves.
Central Methodist looks to rebound from a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Missouri Valley on Oct. 14.
That result was the Eagles' first time being shutout in 2014.
Recent history in the series is in favor of the Ravens, as Benedictine won last year 4-0 and has outscored Central Methodist 11-0 in the last two meetings.
If the Eagles are to pull the upset on Saturday, Nicki Noreen and Jamie Krediet need to lead the way. Both players combine for 17 of the 51 team goals on the year (33 percent).�
Noreen exploded on the scene with five shots netted on Aug. 23 against St. Louis Pharmacy (Mo.). Krediet had a hat trick versus St. Louis Pharmacy a month later. The Eagles ran away with both matches, 14-0 and 9-0, respectively.
Before being shut down by Missouri Valley, both athletes had goals in the Avila contest as well.
Leading the Ravens' offense is Bethany Smith. The Overland Park, Kan., native has scored 15 times in 2014. Smith has a goal in 10 of 13 matches this season, including a hat trick and three matches with two scores apiece.
Jordan Francescon is the second-leading scorer for Benedictine, netting the ball on 12 occasions. Smith and Francescon account for 55 percent of the Ravens' offense.
The Eagles are 5-1-2 on the road, with both ties coming in back-to-back 1-1 stand-stills in September against Missouri Baptist and Tabor (Kan.). A loss on Saturday would be the second-straight road loss for the team, with two more contests away from home remaining on the slate.
In those eight away matches, Central Methodist is averaging over three goals per contest. At home this season, the Ravens are 7-1 and have given up only six scores .75 per tilt including three-consecutive clean sheets at BC Soccer Complex.
Both teams' magic number for victory could be three. Benedictine is 3-0 in HAAC play and has netted three goals in each of the last four clashes. On the other hand, the Eagles' last two wins have come in 3-0 finals.
The last HAAC road victory for Central Methodist came on Oct. 19, 2013 against Graceland (Iowa) in Lamoni, Iowa. The Ravens have not lost a conference match on their home turf since dropping 2-1 to Missouri Valley on Oct. 5 of last year.
Benedictine has a two-game lead over the Eagles in the conference standings. Central Methodist needs a win to cut the deficit in half and hold onto hope of taking the HAAC crown.
