PORTSMOUTH, Ohio -- Point Park women's soccer visits MEC-newcomer Shawnee State on Sunday. Opening kick is scheduled for noon at the Shawnee Turf.
LAST TIME OUT
The Pioneers (6-3-1, 6-1-1 MEC) completed a second-half comeback to defeat West Virginia State 2-1 at F.N.B. Stadium. Isabelle Meier drew Point Park level in the 67th minute off of an assist from Rebecca Pihlgren, and Eliya Adjo scored in the final minute to lift Point Park to a victory.
Point Park improved to 5-0 at home on the season, its most wins at home since 2023.
BACK TO BACK
Nicole Kuchinski picked up her second-straight MEC Defensive Player of the Week title on Monday, becoming the first Pioneer to accomplish the feat since Point Park joined the Mountain East Conference in 2024.
Kuchinski tallied 13 saves across her two shutouts last week, highlighted by an 11-save effort at Concord. Kuchinski is one of two Pioneers to win an MEC weekly honor this season, with Rebecca Pihlgren being named MEC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 7.
Kuchinski leads the MEC in save percentage (.935) and shutouts (six), and she ranks second in goals-against average at 0.33. Her 4.78 saves per game are good for fifth in the league. Kuchinski surrendered her first goal since Sept. 16 on Wednesday, and two of her three goals this season have come on the road against ranked opponents (then-No. 22 Ashland and then-No. 23 Fairmont State).
CONFERENCE CHECK-IN
Point Park is currently tied with Frostburg State for second place in the MEC North Division at 19 points apiece. The Pioneers hold the current tiebreaker of head-to-head matchup after their 1-0 win over FSU on Sept. 20. Both teams trail No. 20 Fairmont State - the only MEC team to beat Point Park this season - by a single point.
Point Park's 0.50 team goals-against average is tied for the best in the MEC with Frostburg State. The Pioneers average margin of +0.34 goals per game is third in the conference.
WELCOME TO MOE'S!
Rebecca Pihlgren was named the Moe's Southwest Grill Pioneer Women's Athlete of the Month on Sept. 10. Pihlgren was named MEC Women's Soccer Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 7 after her heroics in the match against Wheeling. The award marks the second time Pihlgren, the reigning MEC Freshman of the Year and 2025 First Team All-MEC nod, has been named MEC Offensive Player of the Week, as she received the honor last year on Oct. 20.
Philgren leads the team with her three goals, which are tied for ninth in the conference, and 7 points. She sits in eighth place in shots on goal in the MEC and 10th in shots. Two of her goals have been game winners, which ties her for third in the MEC with teammate Eliya Adjo.
SHARE THE WEALTH
Point Park has won six of its eight conference games with a goal differential of 9-2. The Pioneers have featured five different goalscorers over this stretch, with Rebecca Pihlgren scoring three 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 has scored in back-to-back games, and Isabelle Meier became the newest Pioneer to score against West Virginia State.
SCOUTING THE BEARS
Shawnee State (1-6-2, 1-5-2 MEC) looks to snap a two-game losing skid on Sunday, having dropped consecutive matches to West Liberty and No. 20 Fairmont State 2-1. The Bears have scored the fewest goals in the MEC this season (four) and have allowed the third most (22).
Lucie Ashkettle's two goals and 4 points lead the Bears on the season. Harlee Brand has started all nine of Shawnee State's games, posting a 2.35 goals-against average and a .800 save percentage.
THE MATCHUP
Point Park is 2-6-2 all-time against Shawnee State in the matchup dating back to 2007. Point Park won the last matchup on Oct. 14, 2023, snapping a three-game winning streak for SSU.
Point Park is 1-3-1 all-time at Shawnee State.
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.
