(WARRENSBURG, Mo.) – The Jennies Soccer team will carry their program record 24 consecutive wins into the NCAA Division II Final Four on Thursday where they will meet Mercy College (18-3-1). The trip to the tournament’s semi-finals is a first for the program and the Jennies look ready to make the most of this opportunity.

The Jennies’ performance in the NCAA tournament has been nothing short of stout. Senior goalkeeper, Ana Dilkes has completed two shutouts in tournament play and only allowed one shot past her in the Jennies’ latest match against Grand Valley State. It is worth mentioning that the one goal came on a penalty kick.

“The defense has been playing great, we’ve focused a lot on formations and visual cues which has led to great execution,” Dilkes said.

The Jennies are led by Senior forward, Abby Rhodes who has tallied 2 goals and 1 assist and redshirt Junior forward, Jada Scott who shares the same stat line. Rhodes spoke about the feelings associated with finally reaching the Final Four.

“More than anything we’re excited for the experience. We have a job to do and we know what it is, so from here we have to make sure we execute to our ability and play our game then the results will follow,” said Rhodes.

Head Coach Lewis Theobald is in a position to elevate the Jennies program even further than he has in his now eleventh season at UCM. As the second winningest active coach in Division II women’s soccer, the next step is to capture the elusive NCAA championship, which is by no means an easy feat even when your team hasn’t lost a match this season. Coach Theobald’s expectations for his team are to meet this next challenge head on.

“Winning the National Championship is a dream, but we don’t want to dream, we want to stay focused on the present and get through this tough semi-final matchup,” said Theobald.

Mercy College is no team to scoff at either. Their record may include some losses, but they have been at the top of their game throughout the NCAA tournament. The Mavericks reached the Final Four by defeating a tough top seeded West Chester University team in a contest that went the full 110 minutes where Mercy was able to advance on penalty kicks. The Mavericks are led by Junior forward, Haley Noble who has tallied one goal and three assists and Senior midfielder Heidi Serna, who has tallied 2 goals and an assist in the Maverick’s tournament run.

The Final Four will be held at the Swope Park Soccer Village in Kansas City, Missouri on Nov. 30, with a scheduled 2 p.m. kick off. The location of the semi finals and championship game should work in favor for the Jennies as Kansas City is a short drive from Warrensburg, especially when you consider that Mercy will be traveling from Dobbs Ferry, New York.

A win for the Jennies puts them in the championship game on Saturday, Dec. 2 against the winner of UC-Colo. Springs and Carson Newman with a scheduled kick off of 12 p.m.