Pride women's soccer enters NAIA rankings as Receiving Votes team
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time in the history of the Clarke University women's soccer program, the Pride are mentioned in the NAIA Women's Soccer Coaches' Poll as the fifth team receiving votes in Wednesday morning's latest poll release.
Currently holding a 9-1-3 overall record and a 5-0-1 record in the Heart of America Athletic Confernece, CU is currently tied for second place in the Heart with Missouri Valley College, who is ranked No. 20 in the latest poll as the Vikings and Pride played to a 0-0 draw back on Sept. 21 at Burrows Field.
Clarke is one of four teams in the Heart mentioned in the latest Coaches' Poll as the conference is led by No. 7 Central Methodist University, the previously mentioned No. 20 Missouri Valley, then MidAmerica Nazarene University remains in the top 25 at No. 24 despite the Pride earning a 3-1 victory against the Pioneers on Sept. 27.
Full NAIA Rankings can be found here: https://naia.prestosports.com/sports/wsoc/2024-25/releases/Poll_4
Owning a current four-game winning streak, being unbeaten in their six conference games, and either earning a win or a draw in their last eight contests overall, Clarke touts one of the top defenses in the country as they sit tied for 15th in the entire NAIA with just six goals against, are the seventh-best team in the NAIA with a 0.46 goals against average, and are tied for third in the NAIA with eight shutouts in their 13 games played this season.
Junior goalkeeper Faith Krapfl along with a back line primarily consisting of center backs Hope Ward and Morgan Lock along with Juanita Tibocha and Brie Cote on the outside have been holding down the defensive unit for the Pride with Krapfl's back-to-back Heart Defensive Player of the Week honors highlighting the strong defensive play for Clarke so far.
The Pride offense uses a balanced approach with 15 different players finding the back of the net so far in 2024 and two others also have an assist, led senior forward Bailey Wiemann's team-highs of nine goals and 20 points with freshman Jayden Black not far behind with 16 points (6 goals, 4 assists), while Morgan Catchur leads CU with five assists and is currently on a three-game point streak, the longest of her career.
Clarke women's soccer will be celebrating their Senior Day in their next game on Saturday, Oct. 12 when they host Graceland University at Burrows Field for a 3:00 p.m. CT kickoff before a big road matchup against Heart leaders Benedictine College on Friday, Oct. 18 in Atchison, Kan.