Griffon women’s soccer has been making history and steadily improving the last few years, but 2017 was a real breakout season. For the first time since soccer arrived on campus in 2005, the team was a contender for the conference title and advanced to post-season play. Overall, more than 30 team, individual and career records were broken in the 2017 season.
The women, who are coached by Chad Edwards, finished the season 17-5 and hosted its first post-season MIAA conference tournament game, where they were the no. 2 seed, the highest they have ever been ranked in the MIAA. They beat University of Central Oklahoma at home and Washburn University in Warrensburg, but lost in the championship game to University of Central Missouri. Even with the loss, the Griffons were selected to play Southwestern Oklahoma State University in the first round of the NCAA Central Region Championship as the no. 3 seed in Mankato, Minnesota. They lost 1-0.
The 17 wins of the season beat out last year’s record 11 wins, and the team’s 51 goals this season are one goal short of doubling the previous program record. The defense posted a program-record 13 shutouts in 2017 and allowed fewer goals per game than any previous Missouri Western soccer team.
The individual accolades have come as well, as 10 Griffons earned All-MIAA honors. Three were named first team: Cassidy Menke, Bridget Blessie and Madeline Cowell. Sarah Lyle, Sarah Blakley and Sydney Cluck were named to the All-MIAA second team. It was Menke’s second career first-team All-MIAA honor after leading the MIAA with 15 goals and 33 points. Cowell had seven assists and Blessie finished second in the MIAA with five game-winning goals. 
Menke was also named CoSIDA Academic All-District®, and Menke, Cowell and Blessie were all named second-team Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region. Cowell was named first-team All-Central Region by the United Soccer Coaches, and Blessie and Menke picked up second-team honors.
Soccer 2017
30+ team/individual records
First postseason win (x2)
First time hosting an MIAA Tournament game
Top 25 ranking during the season
1st National Tournament Appearance
