GAME INFO
- Thursday, Aug. 13 | 7 p.m. (CT) | Bowling Green, Ky. | WKU Soccer Complex
- Watch: ESPN+
- Live stats
ABOUT THE TOPS
- WKU wrapped up exhibition play last Friday against defending Southern Conference (SoCon) champions Samford. The Hilltoppers and Bulldogs finished in a 1-1 draw. Both teams were scoreless through the first 70 minutes of the match on a steamy day in Bowling Green. Samford got on the board first, but WKU quickly equalized with a penalty kick from Rose Finnegan.
- The Hilltoppers defeated Murray State, 4-1, in the first exhibition of the season. Four different Hilltoppers scored in the exhibition win. WKU got on the scoreboard first with a goal from Danielle Lewin in the 10th minute. Kora Kipley found Lewin who fired the ball from just outside the box and sent it into the upper right corner out of the keeper's reach. In the 48th minute, April McDonald sent one to the back of the net off a corner kick pass from Georgia Liapis to give WKU the lead. That goal would prove to be the game-winner. Sophia Lezizidis scored an insurance goal in the 68th minute and Rose Finnegan added another in the 72nd minute. Maggie Bellair assisted on Lezizidis' goal and Kipley notched her second assist of the night on Finnegan's goal.
- WKU finished last season with a 9-5-3 overall record and an unbeaten 6-0-2 record in Conference USA play, earning the CUSA regular season championship.
- The Hilltoppers return 17 players from the 2025 season, including 2025 CUSA Midfielder of the Year Georgia Liapis, 2025 CUSA Freshman of the Year Makenna Egan and 2025 All-CUSA first teamer Abby Wiedermann. Liapis scored the third most goals in CUSA last season, scoring a total of nine on the year. Egan scored five goals last season, the second most on the team.
- The WKU defense held opponents to 0.86 goals per game last season, the second-best mark in the league.
- The Hilltoppers are led by Jason Neidell in his 26th season on The Hill as the only head coach in WKU women's soccer history. Neidell earned CUSA Coach of the Year honors last season.
SERIES HISTORY
- Thursday's match will be the first meeting WKU and Missouri all-time.
ABOUT THE TIGERS
- Missouri took on Lindenwood in a preseason exhibition on Aug. 5, earning a 3-1 win.
- The Tigers finished the 2025 season with a 4-10-3 record, including a 1-7-2 record in Southeastern Conference play.
- Brianna Buels, Landis Canada and Mia Yang were named to the SEC Preseason Watch List.
How to follow the Hilltoppers: For complete information on WKU Soccer, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Soccer on X and Instagram.
