Setting the Scene: The Southwest Minnesota State (4-4-0, 3-1-0 NSIC) soccer team will continue their six game home stand hosting Minnesota State University, Mankato (6-1-1, 4-0-0 NSIC) in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference match on Sunday, Oct. 2.  Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at the Regional Event Center.

The Match Up: SMSU and MSU have competed 11 times since 1996.  The Mavericks hold a 11-0 all-time series record over the Mustangs.  Out of those 10 meetings, six of the games have resulted in six or more goals for the winning team.  The last meeting between the Mustangs and the Mavericks was in October of 2009 when MSU swept SMSU 3-0.  MSU is currently ranked No. 4 in the National Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region Rankings as of Sept. 27.

Last Time Out: On Wednesday, Sept. 28 the Mustangs hosted University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) in a non-conference match.  The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the first half.  USF's Desiree Parmenter broke the tie scoring for the Cougars in the 75th minute.  Tasia Murray padded USF's lead putting in a shot off of the pipe in the 88th minute.  Samantha Maybon earned the win in net finishing the match with five saves.  SMSU's goalkeeper Sonya Smith falls to 4-3 on the season allowing two goals on seven shots.

Rising in the Ranks: As of Tuesday afternoon, the Mustangs are ranked No. 10 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Central Region rankings. The announcement was made by the NSCAA office in Kansas City, Kan. SMSU is one of five Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schools to earn a spot in this week's edition of the NSCAA Central Region rankings. Minnesota State (No. 4), Winona State (No. 5), Augustana (S.D.) (No. 7), and the University of Mary (No. 8) each earned a spot in this week's poll.

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

We'll Do it Live: Live statistics will be available for SMSU's Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference game against Minnesota State University on Sunday. Click HERE for live stats for SMSU's game against the Mavericks.

In the record books: Senior forward Kelly Fitzgerald continues to make her way up the all-time scoring list at SMSU. The senior's 14 career goals, ranks her 10th all-time at SMSU. Fitzgerald has found the back of the net three times this season.

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 4-4, 3-1 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 42-19-5 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 86-180-19, including 53-76-12 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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