Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team will open the 2009 season Sunday when the Mustangs travel to St. Cloud State to battle the Huskies in a 1 p.m. contest.  The match-up will be a non-conference one.

Exhibitions to open:  The Mustangs invited NAIA-affiliated Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and Division III-opponent Augsburg to the Regional Event Center for two exhibition games before beginning regular season play in 2009.  Both contests ended up in 1-1 ties, but SMSU got goals from freshman Maggy Rouse (Cambridge, Minn.) and junior Kate Voigt (Hudson, Wis.).  Junior goalkeeper Kendra Olchefske tended to the net in both games, tallying 12 saves.

Just the one: Heather Anderson (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) holds the distinction of being the lone senior on the 2009 club.  Anderson started every game last season and will anchor the midfielders this season.

Honor roll:  Sophomore forward Kelly Fitzgerald (Marshalltown, Iowa) is back as SMSU's only returning All-NSIC honoree.  As a freshman in 2008, Fitzgerald led the Mustangs with five goals and 11 points on the season.  She started all 17 games and recorded a Mustang-best 28 shot attempts and 19 shots on goal.

Newbies:  While 11 familiar faces are back on the roster for 2009, nine newcomers are looking to make some noise.  Eight of the fresh faces are freshmen; the other is a sophomore transfer.

According to the coaches:  The NSIC's 14 head coaches have tabbed SMSU 12th in their annual preseason poll.  The Mustangs received 125 points in the poll.  Minnesota State, Mankato took the No. 1 spot in the poll, grabbing one first place vote and 167 points.  Winona State, the NSIC's No. 2 preseason team, received three first place votes and 159 points.
    Team (first place votes)    Points
    1.    Minnesota State (1)    167
    2.     Winona State (3)    159
    3.     Augustana    134
    4.     Minnesota Duluth    130
    5.     Mary    126
    6.     St. Cloud State    105
    7.     Northern State    98
    8.     Bemidji State    85
    9.     Upper Iowa    82
    10.     Concordia-St. Paul    58
    11.     Minnesota State Moorhead    51
    12.     Southwest Minnesota State    34
    13.     Minnesota, Crookston    23
    14.     Wayne State    22
        ( ) first-place votes

The coach:  Amy Olson is in her second year as the leader of SMSU soccer.  The third head coach in school history, Olson has a 3-14-0 all-time record at SMSU.  She is assisted by Vanessa Paswaters.

Let me point this out:  The NSIC's 14 head soccer coaches this year voted to use the point system to determine standings.  The league had previously determined standings by a team's overall conference record.  Here's how this year's standings will break down:  Teams receive two points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss.

Stay connected:  Stay connected with SMSU volleyball all season long at www.smsumustangs.com.  The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.  For the latest video highlights and new episodes of the Mustang minute check out SMSU's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/smsuathletics.