Women's Soccer | 9/28/2016 11:19:00 AM
American Midwest Conference Office Story
ST. LOUIS, MO – The American Midwest Conference (AMC) has expanded its Game of the Week Program, and as a result, the AMC is able to feature more games, with more teams as a part of their primary regular season featured broadcast coverage. This week's women's soccer Game of the Week features the only two teams to garner first-place votes in the AMC preseason polls.
The NAIA #13 Columbia College Cougars (8-0-2, 4-0 AMC) head to Parkville, Mo. where they will battle the only other unbeaten and untied team remaining in the AMC – the Park University Pirates (4-2-1, 4-0 AMC) – in a late afternoon kickoff.
WHO
Columbia Cougars: To say the Cougars have been dominant in the first half of their 2016 schedule might just sell the Cougars short. Columbia has two ties on their record – a 2-2 draw in their season opener against MidAmerica Nazarene and a scoreless affair against Olivet Nazarene on the road. In their other eight matches, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 39-1, and they have tallied at least four goals in each AMC match thus far. The performance has taken the Cougars from unranked in the preseason, all the way to 13th in the NAIA Coaches' Top-25 poll.
Park Pirates: Offense has also been the Pirates' calling card – particularly in their last four matches. Park has 23 goals in their last four tilts, with Emily Key playing a large role in that offensive explosion, the Pirates' senior has a pair of hat tricks already on the season, and the Pirates are going to need her to continue to show that scoring touch if they hope to claim the AMC regular season crown.
WHAT
Since adding Women's Soccer to their athletics program in 2012, the Columbia Cougars have won four of the seven meetings against Park, however, this rivalry has been one in which home field advantage has meant everything. The cougars have won all four all-time meetings at R. Marvin Owens Field in Columbia, while Park is a perfect 3-0 all-time at Julian Field.
WHEN
Wednesday, Sept. 28, 5:00 p.m.
Live Video: Pirate Sports Network (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/park/)
Live Stats: http://www.dakstats.com/WebSync/Pages/Webcasts.aspx?association=10
WHERE
Parkville, Mo. (Julian Field)
WHY
Columbia has won the last two matchups in this rivalry by a combined score of 9-0, but Park is considered by many to be the best challenger to the Cougars for the top spot in the AMC. Julian Field also has one of the best home field advantages in the AMC, as Park has a record of 55-20-3 since 2009.
