MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University soccer team opens the regular season on Saturday, Sept. 3 at the Montana State University Billings Cup against Montana State-Billings beginning at 5 p.m. CDT. The Mustangs will stay in Billings, Mont. on Sunday, Sept. 4 to take on Colorado Christian at 5 p.m. CDT.

The series: SMSU has never faced Montana State-Billings or Colorado Christian.

We'll do it live: Live statistics will be available for SMSU's game against Montana State-Billings. CLICK HERE for live stats.
Fans can also watch the game against Montana State-Billings CLICK HERE for live video.
Fans can follow SMSU live during all HOME contests for the 2011 season. Live stats are available at www.smsumustangs.com/soccerstats

Watch us on NewMedia TV: All SMSU home soccer matches will be available via web streaming at http://nmtvsports.com

Last time out: The Mustangs hosted St. Catherine University in an exhibition game on Aug. 24. SMSU earned shutout the Wildcats in a 2-0 victory. Kelly Fitzgerald got the Mustangs on the board first scoring on a header off a long pass from Vanesa Corona who received a throw-in from Kate Chandler. Fitzgerald later assisted on Autumn Hayes goal. Hayes took a long pass from Fitzgerald and drilled the ball into the back of the net just off the right post.

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. SMSU's first-year head coach TJ Buchholz was an assistant coach at the University of California-Riverside for one season. 

Seeing double: Twin sister's Shayna Smith 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 will take over the helm of the women's soccer program at SMSU for the 2011 season. 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 recently completed his first season as assistant women's soccer coach at NCAA Division I California-Riverside. Buchholz spent two seasons at Wartburg College and Northwestern College in Iowa.

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 82-176-19, including 50-75-12 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.

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