Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team (0-5-0, 0-0-0 NSIC) will finish a seven-game road stand this weekend when the Mustangs travel to St. Cloud State and Concordia University, St. Paul for a pair of conference matches.  SMSU and SCSU will meet up on Saturday at 1 p.m., while the Mustangs and CU square off on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Series records:  Saturday's contest with the Huskies will be the 14th meeting between the two teams and the second this season.  SMSU is 2-10-1 against SCSU all-time; the Mustangs' last win came in 2001.  Sunday's tilt with the Golden Bears, whom SMSU is 8-3-1 against, is the 13th meeting.  The last win against CU was a double-overtime victory in 2006.

Saved:  Junior goalkeeper Kendra Olchefske (Albert Lea, Minn.) currently sits in the No. 2 spot in the conference in saves per game.  Olchefske is averaging 6.50 saves per game, second only to Minnesota State Moorhead's Alison Wanner, who is averaging 8.50 saves per game.

Still looking:  The Mustangs will be looking to knock in their first goal of the 2009 season this weekend against SCSU and CU.  SMSU has tallied 43 shots so far this season, with 15 of them being on goal.

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

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 3-19-0 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.