ATHENS, W.Va. -- Point Park women's soccer hits the road on Wednesday for a matchup at Concord. Opening kick is scheduled for noon at Callaghan Stadium.

LAST TIME OUT

The Pioneers (4-3-0, 4-1-0 MEC) returned to the win column on Sunday when they took down Frostburg State 1-0. Rebecca Pihlgren tallied with just 1:44 remaining in the contest to give Point Park the lead at the gasp. 

Point Park was outshot 13-8 in the match, with goalkeeper Nicole Kuchinski recording six saves en route to being named MEC Women's Soccer Defensive Player of the Week. Kuchinski's shutout was her fourth of the season.

CONFERENCE COMPETITION

After taking down Frostburg State, Point Park sits in second place in the MEC North Division with 12 points, 1 shy of No. 23 Fairmont State. PPU's only defeat in the MEC came at the hands of Fairmont State in a 1-0 result. 

Point Park's 0.57 team goals-against average is second-best in the MEC, trailing only Frostburg State (0.43). The Pioneers average margin of +0.29 goals per game is fourth in the conference.

WEEKLY HONORS

Nicole Kuchinski earned MEC Defensive Player of the Week honors, the conference announced on Monday. Kuchinski became the second Pioneer to receive a weekly award, with Rebecca Pihlgren being named Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 7.

Kuchinski leads the MEC in save percentage (.929) and in shutouts (four), and she sits in second place in the conference with her 0.33 goals-against average. Her 4.33 saves per game is seventh in the league. Kuchinski has only surrendered two goals all season, both coming on the road at ranked opponents (then-No. 22 Ashland and No. 23 Fairmont State).

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 is tied for third in the conference in goals and is fifth in points per game. She sits in fifth place in shots on goal and is 10th in shots. 

SHARE THE WEALTH

Point Park has won four of its five conference games with a goal differential of 6-1. The Pioneers have featured four 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.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTAIN LIONS

Concord (1-6-0, 1-4-0 MEC) enters on a two-game losing skid, having fallen 2-1 to West Virginia State and 1-0 to Glenville State. The Mountain Lions' only win of the season came in a 6-0 rout of MEC-newcomer Shawnee State on Sept. 13.

Daisy Cook leads the team with her three goals and 6 points, and Cook is tied for the team lead in shots on goal at nine with Katie Garratt. Molly Watters' 22 total shots are good for most on the squad. 

Maddie Loughborough has played the last two matches for Concord, recording nine saves and allowing only three goals over the stretch. Loughborough posts a 3.14 goals-against average on the season and has a save percentage of .633. Kayla Garza, who has not played after the 6-0 win over Shawnee State, has allowed only 1.71 goals per match this season with a .684 save percentage.

Concord currently sits in fifth place in the MEC South Division, only ranking higher than Shawnee State. 

THE MATCHUP

Point Park and Concord have met three times in a series that dates back to 2024. Concord won the first matchup in Athens, with the two teams splitting the 2025 series. Point Park picked up a 2-1 win at home last season, in which Rebecca Pihlgren scored a goal and added an assist. Concord won the return fixture 3-0.

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.