Setting the Scene: The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team (1-7-2, 0-5-2 NSIC) will return home for a weekend of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition against MSU Moorhead on Saturday at 1 p.m. and Minnesota, Crookston on Sunday at 1 p.m at Mattke Field at the Regional Event Center.
Sizing up the competition: MSU Moorhead (0-10-1, 0-6-1 NSIC) is coming off a series of conference games resulting in two losses and a tie. Northern State handed the Dragons a 2-0 shutout lost on Oct. 2. MSUM took on Mary the next day and finished with a 2-2 double overtime tie. Aimee Laurencelle and Tricia Vanyo netted goals for Moorhead and Allison Warner recorded 16 saves.
Minnesota, Crookston (1-9-2, 1-6-0 NSIC) handed Moorhead a 2-1 loss on Saturday. Ashley Sletten and Jessica Goodrich both found the back of the net for the Golden Eagles. UMC traveled to Mary and Northern State the weekend before where the Golden Eagles were held to a solo goal in both games.
For the Record: SMSU and MSU Moorhead first played one another in 1996 when MSUM handed the Mustangs a 3-0 loss. Since then the two teams have played each other 19 times resulting in a 8-8-3 series record. SMSU has dominated the record with Minnesota, Crookston with a 10-1 overall record. The two teams first met in 1997 when SMSU handed UMC a 9-0 shutout loss.
Last time out: The Mustangs were on the road for a duo of NSIC matches. Wayne State took SMSU to extra periods on Friday resulting in a 1-1 double overtime decision. Kelly Fitzgerald found the back of the net seven minutes into the first half on an assist from Maggy Rouse. Wayne answered back in the second half, however, scoring off a corner kick after 57 minutes. Fitzgerald recorded a team-high four shots, three of which were on goal. SMSU had 10 total shots on the night while Wayne finished with 32.
Augustana handed SMSU a 3-1 loss on Sunday afternoon in Sioux Falls. Courtney McCarthy scored the first goal of the game on an assist from Kelly Fitzgerald after eleven minutes, but Augustana answered with two goals in the first half and a final goal in the second half to seal the victory for the Vikings. The Mustangs took 13 shots, 10 on goal, while Augie had 21 shots with 13 shots on goal.
Senior Experience: SMSU has plenty of leadership experience this season with six seniors on the roster including goalie, Kendra Olechefske (Albert Lea, Minn.), Tatum Borstad(Coppell, Tex.), Jenna Perske (Sartell, Minn.), Kate Voigt (Hudson, Wis.), and Liz Judkins (Bemidji, Minn.). This group of seniors has charted three-year overall record of 8-41-4.
Stay connected: Stay connected with SMSU soccer all season long at www.smsumustangs.com. The Mustangs are also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and Twitter at www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.
Team Information
Head Coach: Amy Olson (3rd season)
Alma Mater: Howard, 2001
E-mail: amy.olson@smsu.edu
Office Phone: 507-537-7256
Record at SMSU: 5-28-0
Career Record: 15-82-1
Office Phone: 507.537.7256
Assistant Coach: Vanessa Paswaters
First Year of Play: 1996
All-Time Record: 82-165-15
2010 Schedule and Results
NSIC Standings | NSIC Statistics | NSIC Weekly Release
Individual Career Highs
Head Coach Amy Olson
