FROSTBURG, Md. -- Point Park women's soccer is set for a massive road MEC tilt against Frostburg State on Saturday night. Opening kick is scheduled for 5:30 at Bobcat Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

The Pioneers (9-4-1, 9-2-1 MEC) fell to No. 21 Fairmont State on Wednesday night at F.N.B. Stadium 1-0. The result was Point Park's first defeat since Sept. 16 which came on the road at Fairmont State. 

The Pioneers levied 10 shots in the match, five of which came in the final 17 minutes of the game, including three on goal. The Pioneers pushed hard in the final stages of the game in search of an equalizer, but FSU's 65th-minute goal from Stephanie Pedias was the lone tally of the match.

MEC-HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT

Point Park will wrap up a stretch of two difficult games in succession on Saturday, having hosted a ranked Fairmont State team and traveling to Frostburg State. Frostburg State is currently second in the MEC North Division at 29 points - 1 better than third-place Point Park's 28. The Pioneers hold the tiebreaker of head-to-head results entering Saturday's contest.

The top two seeds in the MEC North Division will host matches in the opening round of the MEC Tournament, with third and fourth place in each division having to go on the road. 

PPU and FSU are tied for the best team goals-against average in the conference at 0.43 goals allowed per game. The Bobcats lead the MEC in goals per game at 2.43 and margin of victory per game at 2.00 goals. 

BRICK WALL

Goalkeeper Nicole Kuchinski is second in the MEC in goals-against average (0.31), and is the MEC leader in save percentage (.932) and shutouts (nine). Her 4.23 saves per game are good for sixth in the league. 

Kuchinski has surrendered just two goals since Sept. 16 - one against West Virginia State and the other against No. 21 Fairmont State on Wednesday night. Three of her four goals this season have come on the road against ranked opponents (then-No. 22 Ashland and Fairmont State).

WEEKLY HONORS

Maya Figueroa became the third Pioneer to receive an MEC weekly honor on Monday when she picked up an MEC Offensive Player of the Week title. Figueroa scored in both of Point Park's games last week, including her game-winning tally at Charleston. 

Point Park has received four MEC weekly honors on the season, with Rebecca Pihlgren being named MEC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 7 and Nicole Kuchinski earning back-to-back MEC Defensive Player of the Week crowns on Sept. 21 and 28. 

WELCOME TO MOE'S!

Nicole Kuchinski was named the Moe's Southwest Grill Pioneer Women's Athlete of the Month on Monday. Kuchinski earned back-to-back MEC Defensive Player of the Week titles on Sept. 21 and 28, and the senior goalkeeper allowed only two goals over the last month. 

PIHLGREN POWER

Rebecca Philgren leads the team with her four goals, three assists (tied for seventh in the MEC) and 11 points (10th in the league).

Pihlgren sits in third place in the league in shots on goal (17) in the MEC and her 3.46 shots per game lead the MEC. Two of her goals have been game winners, which ties her for sixth in the MEC with teammates Eliya Adjo and Maya Figueroa.

SHARE THE WEALTH

Point Park has won nine of its 12 conference games with a goal differential of 14-3. The Pioneers have featured nine different goalscorers over this stretch, with Rebecca Pihlgren scoring four goals, including a brace against Wheeling, Charisma Arteaga and Becca Simpkins both scoring against West Liberty and Reece Frank recording the lone tally in the win over Davis & Elkins. Eliya Adjo scored in back-to-back games against Glenville State and West Virginia State, a game in which Isabelle Meier also scored.

Meea Irwin and Maria Gomez both dented the twine at Shawnee State, and Maya Figueroa scored in the team's last two matches against West Virginia Wesleyan and Charleston. 

SCOUTING THE BOBCATS

Frostburg State (10-2-2, 9-1-2 MEC) enters on a two-game win streak in which it has outscored opponents 7-0. The Bobcats are unbeaten at home this season, posting a 5-0-1 record.

Mollie Rebuck's seven goals are the best in the MEC, and both Cassidy Paige and Reese Rizzo are tied for seventh in the league in goals with five apiece. Rebuke and Paige rank second and fourth, respectively, in the MEC in points at 16 and 15. 

Goalkeeper Mia Graff leads the conference in goals-against average at 0.26. Graff is second in the MEC in save percentage (.921) and is fourth in shutouts (five). 

Point Park defeated Frostburg State on Sept. 20 at Rooney Field thanks to Rebecca Pihlgren's 89th-minute goal. The Bobcats out-shot the Pioneers 13-8 that day, including a 6-2 edge in shots on goal. Goalkeeper Nicole Kuchinski stopped every shot that came her way. 

PRESEASON POLL

Point Park was picked to place fourth in the Mountain East Conference North Division in the MEC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll. The Pioneers returned 19 players from the 2025 season, in which they qualified for the MEC Tournament, including the aforementioned Rebecca Pihlgren who was named 2025 MEC Freshman of the Year and First Team All-MEC.