Just three days before the Emporia State Women’s Soccer team is set to play in the semifinals of the Division II Women’s Soccer Tournament, Emporia State Athletics released a statement indicating that head coach Bryan Sailer would not accompany the team to Ashland, Ohio for the third round of the NCAA Division II tournament and multiple players are to be sanctioned. 

“Coach Bryan Sailer is on paid administrative leave and will not be joining the team on the trip. Chloe Marquez will serve as interim head coach,” the statement said.

While the statement did not disclose the events that led up to player sanctions, the statement did indicate the sanctions were due to student-athlete policy and code of conduct violations. 

“As a result of violations to policies and the student code of conduct outlined in the Emporia State Athletics Student-Athlete Handbook, members of the ESU Women’s Soccer team will face sanctions in the form of limited playing time in the upcoming NCAA post-season tournament,” it said.

ESU soccer is still set to face off against MIAA foe Washburn in the Sweet Sixteen despite Sailer’s absence and sanction announcement. 

David Spafford, Director of ESU Athletics, was not available for comment.

“Emporia State Athletics is committed to the high standards and integrity of its program and holds student-athletes, coaches and staff accountable to its established policies,” the statement said. “The team has a history of high performance both on and off the field but remains responsible for the consequences of recent actions.”

No other information is available at this time.