Griffins Close Season with Two Home Games
The Westminster women's soccer team returns to Dumke Field to host the final two games of the 2016 season. The Griffins welcome Black Hills State to town on Friday at 3 p.m. in the final Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference game of the year. They will then host Embry-Riddle Aeronautical (Fla.) on Tuesday at 3 p.m. on Senior Day.
 
Tickets for both remaining home game are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/tickets.
 
Both of the remaining games will be broadcast live on the RMAC Network with David Winworkth calling the action from Dumke Field. There will also be live stats available for each contest. Links for all live features are available at WestminsterGriffins.com/live.
 
About the Griffins
Westminster enter the final two games of the season at 8-4-3 overall and looking to snap a two-game losing streak. The Griffins are 5-3-3 in RMAC play and sit is sixth place with 18 points. They would have enough points to qualify for the RMAC Tournament if the team was eligible. They have gone 5-1-1 at home this season and are unbeaten in five straight games at Dumke Field.
 
The team is scoring 1.47 goals per game to rank eighth in the RMAC. They are third in the league by attempting 16.40 shots per game while averaging 7.93 shots on goal per outing. The Griffins have 12 assists this season and have taken 72 corner kicks.
 
Madison Roemer is second in the RMAC with nine goals with her 20 points ranking third in the conference. She is taking a conference-best 3.80 shots per game and also lead the league with five game-winning goals. Heidi Lorschider is tied for seventh in the RMAC with six goals scored. Tiana Cerciello is tied for fifth with four assists and is ninth by taking 2.80 shots per game.
 
Westminster ranks fourth in the conference with a 0.82 goals-against-average. Opponents are taking 6.7 shots per game and putting 51.5 percent of those on goal. The Griffins current streak of eight straight games allowing a goal is the second-longest in team history.
 
Breanna Empey has started all 15 games in goal this season and she is sixth in the RMAC with her 0.83 GAA. Empey has recorded five shutouts and a .745 save percentage.
 
Historic Season for Women's Soccer
• The 2016 season is the 10th season of competition for the Westminster women's soccer program. The Griffins have gone 104-70-16 (.589) all-time and they are two wins shy of a seventh straight 10-win season. The Griffins recorded the 100th win in program history at Colorado Mesa on September 18.
 
Defense Rules
• The Griffins are holding the opposition to just 6.7 shots per game and just 3.5 shots on goal. In 15 games this season, 11 opponents have taken eight shots or less with five of those being held to five attempts or less.
 
One Goal Only
• Only three this season has a Griffin opponent scored multiple goals in a game. The Griffins surrendered just two goals in the first eight games of the season. Over the past two seasons – 32 games – they have allowed multiple goals to an opponent just eight times.
 
Dumke Dominance
• That defensive effort has been even more efficient at home where the Griffins haven't allowed multiple goals in a game since October 20, 2013. During that 24-game span the team is 18-3-3 with 12 shutouts. They have outscored the opposition 48-12 in those games and they have allowed just five total goals in the past 12 home games.
 
Roemer Keeps Scoring
• Madison Roemer leads the Griffins with nine goals and 20 points this season. She ranks second in the RMAC in total goals and third in total points. Roemer tallied her first career hat trick – the fifth in school history – against UCCS on September 25. The senior added an assist in the win to set a school record with seven points. Roemer also leads the RMAC by taking 3.3.85 shots per game.
 
Second Option
• Heidi Lorschider is second on the team with six goals and 13 points. She had a streak of three straight games with a point – tied for the fifth-longest such streak in team history – snapped in the loss at Colorado Mines on October 7. Lorschider was named the RMAC Offensive Player of the Week on October 4 after posting two goals and one assist during the week's action.
 
Constant Presence
• Senior Maddie Lewis has started all 15 games at defense for the Griffins this season and she leads the team with 1,429 minutes played. Lewis has now played in 67 consecutive games and made 65 straight starts, the second-longest streak in team history. Lewis ranks fourth in team history with 6,044 minutes played.
 
Brick Wall
• Breanna Empey has started all 15 games in goal for the Griffins and ranks sixth in the RMAC with her 0.83 GAA. She has made 38 saves and has a .745 save percentage. Empey has compiled an 8-4-3 record and her five shutouts already rank tied for sixth in a single season in team history.
 
Match Facts: Black Hills State
• Westminster has never Black Hills State.
• This is the first season of competition for the Yellow Jackets.
• BHSU comes to town at 1-14 overall.
• They are last in the RMAC with an 0-10 record.
• Katie Nielson leads the team with five goals.
 
Match Facts: Embry-Riddle (Fla.)
• Westminster has never played Embry-Riddle.
• The Eagles are also in the NCAA DII membership process.
• Embry-Riddle starts the week at 8-3-1 and 5-2-1 in the Southern Stats Conference.
• They will play twice before facing the Griffins.
• Andrea Froshaug leads the team with five goals.