ABILENE – The McMurry women's soccer team heads to Brownwood on Thursday to take on Howard Payne and then returns home to play Wayland Baptist on Friday.
 
The War Hawks are 2-2 on the season after beating the University of Dallas on Sunday, 3-0.
 
McM Storylines
 
Holland Haul: Emily Holland has four goals through the first four matches this season. Her eight goals last season earned her ASC Offensive Player of the Year accolades. Holland has nine points with an assist to accompany her eight goals.
 
Niners: Nine War Hawks have put the ball in the goal this season. Along with Holland's four, McMurry has one goal each from McKenna Standifer, Hailey Donaldson, Hailey Graham, Brooklyn Grove, Jaelynn Portillo, Grace Singleton, Cate Tempelmeyer and Kaylee Worth.
 
Score 14: Along with those goals by nine players, McMurry has 14 players who have posted points (goals and/or assists). Seven players have assists: Holland, Standifer, Haylie Blakley, Laila Brown, Emery Kirby, Alexis Lira and Ava Ybarra.
 
She's a Keeper: Kaitlyn Gustafson has started all four games in net for the War Hawks. She has one solo and one combined shutout. Gustafson has a 1.67 goals allowed average and 11 saves among16 shots faced.
 
History with Howard Payne: McMurry has lost once in the last seven matches with Howard Payne but that loss is a fresh one. HPU won in Abilene last season, 4-0.
 
History with Wayland Baptist: The teams have met twice since 2010 and have split those two. McMurry won last season in Plainview, 3-1. Emily Holland had a hat trick in that match in 2023.
 
Scouting HPU: The Yellow Jackets stand a 2-1-1 after a 1-1 tie at St. Thomas on Sunday. Brenna Douthit and Madelynn Harry have two goals each and Ava Thompson leads the team with five points with a goal and three assists. Landry Combs has allowed four goals in three games and carries in a 1.42 GAA.
 
Scouting WBU: The Pioneers are 1-2 after a 1-0 loss at Houston-Victoria and host Sul Ross State before coming to Abilene. Elaina Barrientes has two goals and an assist to lead Wayland Baptist, which has three goals on the season.