MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team (5-9-1, 4-6-1 NSIC) travels this weekend to take on two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams for their last two match-ups of the 2011 regular season.  First the Mustangs will take on University of Minnesota Duluth (12-3-1, 8-5-1 NSIC) on Saturday at 1 p.m.  Then, on Sunday at 1 p.m. the team will kick-off against Bemidji State University (7-7-2, 5-4-2 NSIC).

The match-up: The Bulldogs enter the match holding a 19-0 all-time series record over the Mustangs.  The teams' first meeting was held in 1996 that resulted in a 7-0 score.  Last season, the Bulldogs beat the Mustangs 1-0 in Marshall.
 
The Beavers and the Mustangs will meet for the 17th time on Sunday.  SMSU holds a 10-3-3 all-time series record over BSU.  From 1996-2004 the Mustangs won nine consecutive games against the Beavers.  SMSU's next win did not come until 2008.  The last meeting between the two teams resulted in a 1-1 double-overtime draw.  

Last time out: Last weekend, SMSU hosted Upper Iowa University on Saturday and Winona State University on Sunday for their last home games of regular season play.
 
Against the Peacocks, SMSU held on to the lead through the first half until Upper Iowa was able to tie the match at one apiece when Verlia Ptasinski drilled a shot past SMSU's freshman keeper #Sonya Smith# in the 75th minute. The Peacocks added to the lead in the 78th minute when Kelsey Taldone set a free kick off an SMSU player and into the back of the net. Two minutes later, Liz Kaluzinski cushioned UIU's lead to 3-1.

On Sunday, after playing to a scoreless tie in the first half, Winona State got on the board in the 59th minute on a goal by Sarah Colleran.  The Mustangs were able to tie the match when Kelly Fitzgerald netted her sixth goal of the season on a header with the assist being credited to Kendra Olchefske. The Warriors were able to come through in overtime when Melissa Sellier put home a rebound after Katy Soliday rang a shot off the post to give Winona State the 2-1 win. 
 
Saying goodbye: Last Sunday was Senior Day for SMSU. Five Mustangs laced up the cleats for their final game at the Regional Event Center. Alyssa Lavorata, #Amber Williams#, Brittany Oehlerking, Kendra Olchefske and Kelly Fitzgerald are the seniors on the 2011 SMSU soccer team.
 
In the record book: Senior forward #Kelly Fitzgerald# continues to make her way up the all-time scoring list at SMSU. The senior's 17 career goals, ranks her 9th all-time at SMSU. Fitzgerald leads the Mustangs in scoring with six goals and two assists to give her a total of twelve points on the 2011 season.  Last Sunday against Winona State, Fitzgerald scored her sixth goal of the season marking her single season-career high.

Back-stopping the Mustangs: Freshman goalkeeper Sonya Smith has been nothing short of spectacular in the net for SMSU this season. Smith made an impact for the Mustangs her first weekend in goal, earning NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Sept. 7. She was the first Mustangs soccer player to earn NSIC player of the week honors since #Ellen Diekemper# was named offensive player of the week on Oct. 2, 2007.

By the numbers: SMSU freshman netminder Sonya Smith has moved her way into the women's soccer national rankings. Smith ranks third in all of Division II with 154 saves (10.26 saves per game) on the season. She also ranks 22nd in the country with a .87 save percentage, which also ranks second amongst goalkeepers in the NSIC. 

Scouting the Bulldogs: UMD enters the contest with a record of 12-3-1, 8-5-1 in NSIC play.  The Bulldogs have scored 28 goals this season off of 26 assists. Leading the Bulldogs in goals is Maureen Stormont with eight goals on the season.  Hanna Iaizzo has started in 14 out of 15 games for UMD with 78 saves holding a record of 8-4-1.  Duluth is coming off a 4-1 win last Friday over Bemidji State.

Scouting the Beavers: The Beavers enter the match with a record of 7-7-2, 5-4-2 in NSIC play.  BSU has scored 19 goals, with Kirsten Erickson leading the team with eight of her own.  Erickson also leads the team in assists with four.  Abby Kjonaas has started in net 13 times this season for the Beavers with 81 saves and a record of 5-5-2.  Bemidji is coming off of a 4-1 loss to Minnesota Duluth last Friday and a 4-2 win over Minot State on Sunday.    

In the ranks: SMSU earned a spot in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region rankings last week. The Mustangs debuted at No. 10 in the regional rankings. SMSU has since dropped out of the rankings.

Watch us on New Media TV: All SMSU home soccer matches will be available to watch live for FREE via web streaming through New Media TV.

We'll do it live: Live statistics will be available for ALL SMSU home soccer matches. For live stats against Minnesota Duluth click HERE. For live stats against Bemidji State click HERE.

Returning veterans: SMSU returns 10 players from the 2010 roster with playing experience at SMSU. The Mustangs return a core of five seniors, including last season's leading goal scorer Kelly Fitzgerald and All-NSIC selection goalkeeper #Kendra Olchefske#, Brittany Oehlerking, Alyssa Lavorata, and #Amber Williamson# each have contributed to the Mustang soccer program during their careers. SMSU also returns three sophomores and three juniors from 2010.

California connection: Transfer student-athlete Vanesa Corona and freshman #Kailey Fernandez# both call the state of California home. Corona is a transfer from Cypress College in Cypress, Calif. who scored 21 goals in two seasons at Cypress College. Fernandez comes to Marshall via Villa Park High School in Orange, Calif. She led her team in goals and was named the team's defensive MVP as a senior.

Seeing double: Twin sister's Shayna and Sonya Smith from Anoka, Minn. join the Mustangs for their freshman season in 2011. They join a team that is no stranger to sibling connections. Current Mustang sophomore Whitney Borstad played one season with her older sister Tatum Borstad, SMSU's all-time leader in minutes played, who played with her older sister Kayla Borstad during her senior season in 2007.

What happened in 2010: SMSU finished the 2010 season 1-11-4 overall, including 0-9-4 in NSIC play. Kelly Fitzgerald led the team scoring four goals while adding one assist for nine points on the season. Goalkeeper Kendra Olchefske was named All-NSIC third team in 2010. Olchefske finished the 2010 season ranked second in the NSIC with 8.69 saves per game.

The coach: TJ Buchholz is in his first season as head coach at SMSU in 2011 with a record of 5-9-1, 4-6-1 in NSIC play. Buchholz was named the fourth head coach in program history on April 19, 2011. Buchholz has nine seasons of head coaching experience at the collegiate level. He came to SMSU after spending the 2010 season as assistant women's soccer coach at NCAA Division I California-Riverside. Prior to UC-Riverside, Buchholz spent two seasons (2008-09) as the head women's and men's soccer coach at Wartburg College (Iowa) and seven seasons (2001-07) as head coach of the men's program at Northwestern College (Iowa). He also served one season as the Northwestern head women's soccer coach (2007).  His career head coaching record in women's soccer is 43-23-6 in three seasons and 99-69-7 in nine seasons as a men's head coach.

According to the coaches: Southwest Minnesota State was picked to finish 14th in the NSIC preseason poll in 2011. Winona State was picked as the preseason favorite for the second consecutive season.

1. Winona State (12) 168
2. Minnesota Duluth (1) 146
3. Minnesota State (1) 141
4. Augustana 122
5. University of Mary 115
6. Bemidji State 111
7. St. Cloud State 102
8. Upper Iowa 92
9. Wayne State 80
10. Northern State 62
11.Concordia-St. Paul 53
12. Minnesota, Crookston 31
13. MSU Moorhead 29
14. SMSU 22

History lesson: 2011 marks the 16th season of women's college soccer at Southwest Minnesota State. SMSU owns an all-time record of 89-185-20, including 54-80-13 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play.

Stay connected: Stay connected with SMSU soccer all season long at www.smsumustangs.com The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter.