Complete Release (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team (0-3, 0-0 NSIC) opens the 2009 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference season this weekend, traveling to Minnesota Duluth and Bemidji State.  SMSU meets up with UMD on Saturday at 1 p.m., while the Mustangs and BSU go head to head on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Familiar face:  It will be the second straight game against UMD on Saturday for the Mustangs.  SMSU was defeated by the Bulldogs 2-0 on Sunday at the Northern Sun Festival in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Series records:  SMSU will be looking for its first win against UMD in school history on Saturday.  The Mustangs are 0-17-0 against the Bulldogs all-time.  SMSU is 10-2-2 against BSU all-time; the Mustangs' last win against the Beavers was, coincidently, on Sept. 20, 2009.

A Rouse-ing offense:  Freshman Maggy Rouse (Cambridge, Minn.) has emerged as SMSU's offensive leader.  The forward leads SMSU in shots and shots on goal with 11 and five, respectively.

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.

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 3-17-0 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.