Northwest Missouri State’s repeated defensive stands against Washburn drew heavy praise from coach Mel Tjeerdsma — even if he didn’t know exactly whom to thank.

Missing four regular starters by the end of the game, the Bearcats limited the high-octane Ichabods’ offense to its lowest point total of the season during Saturday’s overtime victory at Bearcat Stadium. More importantly, Northwest kept the nation’s No. 16-ranked team out of end zone in the second half and opened the door for a come-from-behind win.

“I’m not sure who was the leader out there. It’s kind of by committee,” Tjeerdsma said. “But it says a lot about where we’ve come defensively and our depth and our preparation.

“Even those guys down the (depth chart) were well prepared.”

Already missing defensive end Sean Paddock (foot surgery), the Bearcats lost safety Myles Burnsides — last year’s Division II defensive player of the year — to a mild concussion, while Aldwin Foster-Rettig was ejected earlier in the game. Enter a series of backups, including fourth-string defensive back Clark Snodgrass, who doesn’t normally travel with the team.

The Bearcats prevented Washburn from reaching the end zone after halftime and allowed just nine first downs on eight second-half drives — including a total of three three-and-outs in the second half. Fresh off a six-touchdown performance against Pittsburg State, Ichabods quarterback Dane Simoneau didn’t throw a scoring strike for the first time this season and was sacked three times.

“Our defensive line really played outstanding all day,” Tjeerdsma said. “They set the tone right away early in the game by getting a couple sacks with a four-man rush. I think that might have shook him a little bit.”

Despite the scare against Washburn, Northwest clinched at least a share of its 23rd conference title. The Bearcats can claim the MIAA crown outright Saturday with a road win against Fort Hays State (5-4, 3-4 MIAA). The team expects Paddock to return from his injury against the Tigers, while Burnsides has shown no lingering effects from his concussion and also plans to play.

Double-digit drama

Still riding the high from a record-tying performance, the Bearcats’ soccer team crashed back down soon.

With a chance to set a new program mark for wins in a season, Northwest surrendered two goals to Nicole Baier in the first nine minutes during Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to Nebraska-Omaha. Northwest keeper Kira Lazenby, a two-time MIAA Player of the Week, has only allowed six first-half goals all season long.

“It kind of seemed like we weren’t ready to start,” Lazenby said. “They saw it, and they acted on it. But we figured things out quickly and played a good game after those first two goals.”

Northwest (10-6-1, 6-6-1) notched its 10th win of the year just two days before when Heidi Sobota scored in double overtime to topple Emporia State and match the victory mark set last season. The team hopes to break new ground this Saturday, when it takes on Missouri Southern on Bearcat Pitch during Senior Day.

The Bearcats defeated the Lions 1-0 earlier this season. The game holds special meaning for Lazenby, a Utah native whose parents are scheduled to visit for the first time in her career at Northwest.

Finishing strong

Allison Rogers is the first to admit the hectic nature of the past month for Northwest’s volleyball team. But a sense of normalcy has started to return, according to the Bearcats’ interim head coach.

Northwest split its games for the second straight week under Rogers thanks to a victory against Fort Hays State that saw Ashley Mitchell record a career-high 15 kills to give Rogers her second victory as head coach.

“We really want to focus on finishing on that high note,” Rogers said. “It’s kind of been a whirlwind, as you can imagine, but staying focused on that hasn’t changed. We maybe just have a new look on how to do that.”

The Bearcats (12-17, 3-10) have another strong opportunity to earn at least a split again this week with road games against Pittsburg State — ranked No. 24 in Monday’s AVCA poll — and Southwest Baptist. Northwest owns a lifetime record of 40-9 against Southwest Baptist.

Watching the polls

A strong finish at Saturday’s conference meet has Northwest cross country coach Scott Lorek hoping for a place among the nation’s best teams.

The Bearcats’ women finished fourth as a team at the MIAA Championships with the help of sophomore Angela Adams, who placed 12th in the field (22 minutes, 43 seconds) and ran the third-fastest 6-kilometer time in school history. Senior Anna O’Brien (21st) and junior Kayli Hrdlicka (23rd) also finished in the top 25 to help the team finish well in front of fifth-place Fort Hays.

O’Brien, who finished fourth at the meet in 2007, managed her time despite battling a season-long knee injury.

“They’re really running kind of fearlessly,” Lorek said. “They’re not getting hung up on if can they do it, but they’re going out and do it.”

Thanks to the strong showing, the Bearcats moved up to fifth in the regional rankings behind MIAA foes like Missouri Southern, Truman State and Pittsburg State — all of which were ranked in the most recent national poll. In addition to increased regional prominence and a recruiting advantage, Lorek believes a spot in the Division II poll would provide his team with a psychological boost.

“I also think it raises the level of expectation within our program,” said Lorek, who never has coached a nationally ranked women’s team. “Their expectations of what this program is capable of being, that filters down to every person younger than them in the program.”

Northwest’s men also moved up a spot in the regional rankings to ninth after a sixth-place showing at conference. Zach Layton (12th) and Teroll Pursell (19th) each earned honorable mention all-conference honors thanks to their respective top-20 finishes.