Warriors’ Resurgent Season Ends in NAIA First Round

COLUMBIA, Mo. – After a three-year hiatus, Midland University was back in the NAIA National Tournament as they took on the University of California Merced in the First Round of the CMU/Columbia, Missouri Bracket. It was an evenly played match where the teams went back and forth on the turf at Battle High School, the Warriors' 2023 came to an end as they fell to the Bobcats 1-0.

Midland and UC Merced went shot for shot in the first 45 minutes of action out on the pitch. Both teams put up seven shots with three on frame as they headed into halftime scoreless.

After the intermission, the Bobcats turned up the heat offensively as they probed the Warriors' defense. In the 76th minute, UCM's leading goal scorer and conference player of the year was able to fire home the eventual game-winner. The ball caromed off a defender and past the Warriors' keeper.

Over the final 45 minutes, the Bobcats had a substantial lead in shot attempts, 15-2, with 6 of their attempts on the frame. Midland had just two shots on target which were corralled by the UCM keeper.

For the game, the Warriors finished with nine shots (five on goal). Hanna Schimmer was on the executing end of nearly half of the chances with four attempts (two on target) during the game.

Kyla Pires went the full 90 minutes in goal for MU. She picked up nine saves on the day and finished the season with 47 saves in 12 games.

"The girls fought to the end, which is exactly what they did all season," commented head coach Tatum Tramain. "They faced a lot of adversity this season and had to fight through all of it. I couldn't be prouder of this group. I wouldn't have wanted to go to the national tournament with anyone else."

Midland finished the season with a 13-5-4 record. They went 7-2-3 in conference play ahead of winning the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. The Warriors scored 52 goals this season. They were led in scoring by Hanna Schimmer (16) and Aminata Lewis (10). Sydney Herren (5), Addison Castellanos (4), and Ashley Atkinson (4) were also major contributors to the attack throughout the year.