For the first time in nearly a month - it went 2-1 on its road trip since then - William Woods University (5-4-3, 1-0 American Midwest Conference) will play in front of its home fans, hosting Williams Baptist University (3-8, 1-1) on Senior Day at 1 p.m. Saturday at North Campus Athletic Complex in Fulton.
The Owls' seniors being honored on Saturday are Belle Boschert, Lauren Helmert, Wilson Hornsby, Sam Poehlmann, Lexi Drbul, Maddy Schrader, Leah Hays and Hannah Loethen. Among the Owls' eight seniors, four have postseason accolades: Helmert (three-time All-AMC selection), Loethen (first-team All-AMC in 2023), Poehlmann (honorable mention All-AMC in '22) and Schrader (AMC Newcomer of the Year and first-team All-AMC at Columbia College in '21).
After beating Harris-Stowe State University 1-0 in their AMC opener on Sep. 28 in St. Louis, the Owls fell 3-0 to a strong Clarke University team with a 9-1-3 record in their most recent game Tuesday in Dubuque, Iowa. In both those matches, WWU had seven shots for its most in a half, totaling 11 shots (five on goal) against the Hornets and eight shots (four on goal) against the Pride. Anchored by Megan Schutze-Schweitzer, the AMC Defender of the Week Sep. 23-29, the Owls held HSSU to five shots (one on goal). Then, it allowed 18 shots (eight on goal) to Clarke, who scored seven goals in its previous two matches.
Through 12 matches this season, William Woods has 11.5 shots and one goal per game, allowing 10.3 shots and 1.25 goals per game. The Owls have totaled 138 shots (67 on goal), and they've given up 123 shots (67 on goal).
Freshman forward Zoe Lockhert paces WWU's attack with a team-high four goals, 10 points, 12 shots on goal and a co-team-high two assists. Midfielder Tess Roberts, a sophomore transfer from St. Charles Community College, has a co-team-high two assists while putting six of her eight shots (75 percent) on goal. Other offensive standouts for the Owls are Schrader with two goals and eight shots (five on goal) and Loethen with a goal, an assist and 15 shots (nine on goal).
Named AMC Defender of the Week twice this year, Boschert (4-3-3) is having quite the final campaign as the Owls' shot-stopper, with four shutouts, 43 saves and a .811 save percentage in 841:49 between the posts. Backup goalkeeper Sierra Hahn (1-1-0), AMC Defender of the Week Sep. 16-22, has one shutout, eight saves and a .615 save percentage in 238:11. Schutze-Schweitzer leads WWU's backline, logging a team-high 1,062 minutes and using her speed and marking ability to thwart the opposition's attacking runs.
Saturday is the 13th meeting between William Woods and Williams Baptist. Woods is unbeaten in the all-time series, 11-0-1, and the Owls are on a seven-game winning streak against the Eagles. WWU has a record of 7-0 against Williams Baptist in Fulton and won the last game in Fulton on Oct. 15, 2022, 2-0. The Owls beat the Eagles 6-1 in last season's meeting in Walnut Ridge, Ark. WWU has outscored WBU 18-1 between the five most recent matchups. The first game played between the two teams was on Oct. 12, 2013, in Fulton, which William Woods won 9-0.
William Woods is ranked 30th in the NAIA in shutouts (five), 69th in corner kicks (44), 88th in shots (138), 97th in assists (11) and 104th in shots on goal (67).
Williams Baptist's two most recent matches were its first two AMC contests. The Eagles lost 1-0 to Missouri Baptist University last Saturday in Walnut Ridge, Ark., and in their AMC opener, they beat Stephens College 2-0 on Sep. 28 in Columbia.
In their match against the Spartans last Saturday, the Eagles notched nine shots (five on goal), and Missouri Baptist had 17 shots (11 on goal). Victoria de Abreu put up four of WBU's five shots on goal, all of which were saved by the Spartans' keeper. Eagles goalkeeper Lisa Craig tallied 10 saves in 90 minutes between the posts, conceding the contest's only goal in the 30th minute.
Through 11 games this season, Williams Baptist has 10.4 shots per game and 1.09 goals per game, allowing 3.64 goals per game. The Eagles have totaled 114 shots (66 on goal).
Williams Baptist is ranked 63rd in the NAIA in shot-on-goal percentage (.579), 90th in corner kicks (40), 108th in shots on goal (66), 117th in penalty kicks (1-1) and 118th in shots (114).
The Eagles' attack is led by de Abreu, who is the team leader in goals (five), points (12), shots on goal (34), shots (49), penalty kicks (1-1) and assists (two) and the co-team leader in assists (two). Outside of de Abreu, WBU's key offensive players are Irene Cabanas Pena, with a co-team-high two assists; Mackenzie Souers, with three goals, one assist and 32 shots (18 on goal); and Danarria Thomas, whose two goals were both game-winners (team-high in that stat).
Freshman Craig (3-5-0) is Williams Baptist's starting goalkeeper. She's posted the Eagles' lone shutout, made 91 saves and owns a .758 saving percentage in 768:02 of action.
Gameday Information
William Woods (5-4-3, 1-0 AMC) vs. Williams Baptist (3-8, 1-1 AMC)
North Campus Athletic Complex (Fulton, Mo.), 1 p.m. Saturday
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