Coming off two highly entertaining draws against future conference opponents to begin the week, (RV) William Woods University (6-2-4, 2-0 American Midwest Conference) takes on another quality team, hosting AMC foe (RV) Williams Baptist University (4-2-4, 0-1) on Senior Day at 3 p.m. Saturday at North Campus Athletic Complex in Fulton.

Saturday isn't just a memorable day for the Owls' 10 seniors but also for coach Tommy Nienhaus, as it's the first senior class he recruited for The Woods. WWU's 10 seniors are Luke Flint, Sam Gonzalez, Omar Murillo (two-time first-team All-AMC selection), Nico Martinez Labra, Lubos Polacko, Michael Bhat, Anthony Lint, Vicente Poblete, Breck McGrail (honorable mention All-AMC last season) and Marcelo Rumbos.

William Woods heads into the Williams Baptist matchup riding a four-game unbeaten streak. In the Owls' first two matches this week, they drew 2-2 against No. 22 Central Methodist University (9-2-2) Thursday in Fulton and played to a 3-3 tie at Clarke University (6-3-1) Tuesday in Dubuque, Iowa. 

A similarity in both those contests was that Woods made the most of the shots it had: CMU outshot WWU 13 (six on goal) to eight (seven on goal), and the Pride also did 24 (eight on goal) to 11 (seven on goal). That wasn't the only comparable aspect, as both teams had a player score a brace in each match. Defenders recorded the Owls' two-goal performances, Pedro Salmon versus the Eagles and Murillo at Clarke.

Through 12 matches this season, William Woods has 14.8 shots and 2.5 goals per game, while the Owls have allowed 11.4 shots and 1.42 goals per game. WWU has totaled 178 shots (89 on goal) and has given up 137 shots (61 on goal).

Offensively, WWU is led by junior forward David Fink with a team-high seven goals and 15 points and sophomore midfielder Miles Andrews with a team-high 46 shots, 20 shots on goal and a co-team-high two game-winning goals. Other standouts are forward Polacko, with a team-high .800 shots on goal percentage and co-team-high two game-winning goals and sophomore Salmon, with a team-high five assists.

The Owls split their goalkeeping duties between juniors Matthew Dworak (3-1-2) and Wil Rieves (2-1-1). Dworak has started both of WWU's AMC contests and has two shutouts, 25 saves and a .735 save percentage, and Rieves earned AMC Defender of the Week (Aug. 26 - Sep. 1) and has 17 saves and a .680 save percentage. 

Saturday's game will be the 26th meeting between William Woods and Williams Baptist. WWU controls the all-time series 20-5, though WBU has won the last five matchups. The Owls are 11-1 against the Eagles in Fulton, but they dropped the most recent meeting in Fulton 1-0 on Oct. 15, 2022. In their most recent match, No. 4 seed William Woods lost 2-0 in overtime to No. 1 seed Williams Baptist in the 2023 AMC Tournament semifinals on Nov. 7 in Walnut Ridge, Ark. The key for the Owls will be to stop the Eagles' attack, as they've outscored them 11-2 in the last five matchups. The first game played between the two teams was on Sep. 7, 2000, in Walnut Ride, which Woods won 4-0.

William Woods is ranked 28th in the NAIA in assists (25), 31st in shots on goal (89), 36th in goals scored (30), 40th in shots (178) and 49th in corner kicks (60).

Although Williams Baptist is also receiving votes in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 poll released Wednesday - the Owls received 32 votes, the Eagles 18 - it's coming off a loss heading into its first AMC away match this season. That result was an AMC-opening 3-2 defeat to Missouri Baptist University last Saturday in Walnut Ridge, Ark. Despite losing the game, the Eagles outshot the Spartans 24-12 and placed 13 on goal. WBU's Jacobo Obradors notched a goal and an assist against MBU, and Eagles goalkeeper Rodrigo Pina played all 90 minutes and made three saves in six attempts.

Through 10 games this season, Williams Baptist has 9.8 shots and 1.5 goals per game, conceding 1.09 goals per game. The Eagles have totaled 98 shots (47 on goal).

Williams Baptist is ranked first in the NAIA in red cards (six), third in yellow cards (51), 20th in shutouts (five), 81st in shot percentage (.153) and 87th in assists (14).

Senior Obradors, who earned AMC Offensive Player of the Week Sep. 16-22, leads the Eagles' attack this season with a team-high eight goals, 18 points, 28 shots, 15 shots on goal, one penalty-kick goal, a quad-team-high two assists and one game-winning goal. Other offensive standouts for WBU are Hugo Gil with one goal, two assists and 10 shots (four on goal) and junior Mateus Ribeiro with one goal and 10 shots (five on goal).

Eagles senior shot-stopper Pina (3-2-3), a two-time AMC Defender of the Week this year (Sep. 23-29 and Sep. 9-15), has five shutouts, 34 saves and a .773 save percentage in 822:31 between the posts in 2024.

Gameday Information

(RV) William Woods (6-2-4, 2-0 AMC) vs. (RV) Williams Baptist (4-2-4, 0-1 AMC)
 North Campus Athletic Complex (Fulton, Mo.), 3 p.m. Saturday

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