By Mike DeVader, Communications and Sports Information Intern

NAIA Match of the Week – No. 7                                              
No. 13 Siena Heights (Mich.) (11-1-0, 3-0-0 WHAC) vs. No. 9 Northwestern Ohio (9-0-1, 3-0-0 WHAC)
Wed., Oct. 8 | 7 p.m. EDT | O’laughlin Stadium | Adrian, Mich. 
Live Stats – Provided by Siena Heights and Stretch Internet 

• No. 9 Northwestern Ohio travels to Adrian, Mich., to take on No. 13 Siena Heights (Mich.) in a Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) matchup in this week’s edition of the NAIA Women’s Soccer Match of the Week.
• The Racers enter the contest having won four in-a-row, including a perfect 5-0 mark on the road this year.
• The Saints are undefeated at home (7-0), with their last home victory coming on Oct. 1 against then-No. 7 Davenport (Mich.), 1-0. Siena Heights has won six-consecutive matches.
• Something has to give in this match as both clubs enter Wednesday’s duel with 3-0 records in WHAC play.
• Northwestern Ohio has played dominant defense for more than a month, not allowing a goal since a 4-3 double overtime win over Thomas (Ga.) on Aug. 29. The Racers only non-win on their schedule was against Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) on Sept. 13. The bout ended in a 0-0 stand-still.
• During Northwestern Ohio’s last eight contests – the Racers have outscored their opponents 29-0.
• Northwest Ohio’s last road victory came on Oct. 4 against Lawrence Tech (Mich.), 3-0.
• The Racers have shut out their opponents in their last four away contests, and have not surrendered a score since Aug. 27 in a 2-1 win over then-No. 17 Brenau (Ga.).
• Pitching a shutout is becoming a habit for the Saints as well, having not allowed a goal in the last six matches. The last score Siena Heights gave up at home was on Sept. 13 against Bethel (Ind.). The Saints won 3-1.
• Opponents have only scored four times all year on a stout Siena Heights defense.
• The Saints’ only defeat came at the hands of Saint Francis (Ind.), 1-0, on Sept. 16. Saint Francis’ Heather Jones put in the game's only goal in the 21st minute.
• The two squads faced off last year on Oct. 9, with the Saints coming out on top 2-1. Sarah Huchet scored in the 35th minute on a free kick to give Northwestern Ohio a 1-0 lead. It would stick until two late goals from the Saints – the first from Megan Michels and the second from Paige Frey.
• With both clubs playing lockdown defense, scoring chances could be few and far between on Wednesday. In last years’ get-together, only eight shots on goal were allowed.
• If the 2013 version of this conference rivalry is any indication, the team that plays the most physical could claim the upper-hand when the final whistle blows. Last year, there were 19 fouls called against Siena Heights and 17 called against the Racers. Each team also received two yellow cards.
• If Siena Heights is going to hand Northwestern Ohio its first loss of the season, look for the offense to revolve around Samantha Bartelotti. The freshman leads the squad in goals (9) and points (20). Although Bartelotti is currently in a three-match scoreless drought, she has recorded two goals in two matches this season – Sept. 12 against then-No. 16 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and Trinity Christian (Ill.) on Sept. 19.
• Trying to stop Bartelotti and the rest of the Saints’ attack will be Racers’ goalkeeper, Nadine Stonjek. So far this season, Stonjek has allowed only four scores and has eight-straight shutouts.
• It will be a tall task to blank the Saints, as they are averaging 2.5 goals per game in 2014.
• The last regular season WHAC loss for Northwestern Ohio came in this matchup last season. Siena Heights’ last defeat in conference play was Oct. 19, 2013 to Concordia (Mich.), 1-0.

Additional Notes from Around NAIA Women’s Soccer
(Through games played on Oct. 7, 2014)

• There was a lot of movement within the Women’s Soccer Coaches’ Top 25 poll this week, as only two schools – No. 5 Concordia (Calif.) and No. 6 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) – found themselves in the same ranking as the Sept. 30 release. No. 25 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) was the only newcomer in the poll.
• For the complete release, click here.
• In the Top 25 Poll, the Bulldogs of Cumberland (Tenn.) became the top-ranked club for the first time in school history.
• Concordia (Ore.) fell to No. 3 after a 1-0 loss to the College of Idaho on Oct. 4. The drop in the rankings snapped the Cavaliers’ run of nine-consecutive No. 1s, dating back to Oct. 22 of last year. It was the first loss for Concordia since Sept. 15, 2013, when it fell to Embry-Riddle 2-1. The Cavaliers compiled a 28-0-1 record since their last defeat.
• Concordia also owns the second longest active streak at 146-straight polls.
• Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) owns the longest active streak of consecutive appearances in the Top 25 with 153 mentions, including a string of 123-straight top 10 rankings.
• The first edition of the 2014 NAIA Women's Soccer Modified Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI) was released Oct. 1, with Cumberland (Tenn.) earning the No. 1 position. The Bulldogs become just the fourth team to claim the No. 1 ranking all-time in the MRPI joining Lindsey Wilson (7), Concordia (3) and former member Lee (Tenn.) (3). For the complete release, click here.
• The second MRPI will be announced on Oct. 22.
• Science & Arts (Okla.) – who was the last remaining team without any blemishes on its record – fell to Oklahoma Baptist on Oct. 3, 3-1. The Drovers are now 11-1-0.
• Six programs are still searching for their first wins of the year.
• Megan Johnson of Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) leads the NAIA in goals with 22, scoring more than one goal on six occasions. She also holds the season single-game high with six goals and 13 points against Grace (Neb.) on Sep 17.
• Other Top 25 games this week:
               - Wednesday: No. 7 The Master's (Calif.) at No. 22 Biola (Calif.)

Tourbeau Sports Group/NSCAATV.com Game of the Week
• The 2014 season marks the second year that the National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America (NSCAA) created a partnership with Tourbeau Sports Group (TSG) to produce a live, broadcast of a Women's Soccer Game of the Week. This game features the best in NAIA Women's Soccer and matches around the Top 25. The schedule can be viewed here.
• The first Tourbeau Sports Group/NSCAATV.com Game of the Week in the NAIA is scheduled for a men’s/women’s doubleheader Sept. 21 between Georgia Gwinnett and Northwood (Fla.).
• The first-ever NAIA men’s and women’s soccer preseason show was launched Aug. 22. This was a NSCAA production. To watch the entire show, click here.
• The NSCAA created a digital platform this year for all soccer-playing institutions and needs your help to increase exposure of NAIA soccer. You are encouraged to submit written or video features (links or embed codes preferred) to info@nscaatv.com.