OPENING KICK
Southwest Minnesota State will look to start another winning streak this weekend versus MSU Moorhead and Northern State after the Mustangs' 11-game winning streak was snapped by Winona State on Sunday, Oct. 12 at The Schwan Regional Event Center in Marshall. It was the Mustangs' longest winning streak in program history and the best start to a season (11-0) as well.
RECAP: LAST WEEK
Southwest Minnesota State split its pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games this weekend. SMSU's 11-game winning streak was stopped by Winona State on Sunday as the Warriors took the game 1-0. SMSU is now 11-1 overall, 8-1 in the NSIC.
On Saturday, Reigning NSIC Offensive Player of the Week
Miranda Cadena scored her ninth goal of the season
in the 11th minute to give SMSU a 1-0 lead. The goal was later proved to be the game-winning goal as SMSU and
Denae Brooks shutout the Peacocks. The win was SMSU's first over Upper Iowa since the 2007 season. At 10:52,
Kendahl Fisher flipped in a perfect pass that found Cadena just yards in front of the goal and the sophomore forward lobbed a shot over the keeper for her ninth goal of the season. Cadena is now just one goal shy from recording double-digit goal scored -- a feat that hasn't been done by a Mustang since Joelle Dean in 2004. The assist was Fisher's seventh of the season and it marks the most assists in a single season by a Mustang since Nadia AbuAyed in 2004.
Denae Brooks made her season debut as she made her first career start in goal. The junior college transfer played well and earned her first career shutout while making one save on eight shots faced. SMSU now has shutout seven of its 11 opponents this season. With its 11 wins, SMSU ties the single season record for wins in a season. The 1999 Mustangs finished 11-9-1.
On Sunday, Caitlin Lilly scored in the 82nd minute to break the scoreless tie and give Winona State University the 1-0 victory over No. 21 Southwest Minnesota State at The Schwan Regional Event Center. The loss was the SMSU's first of the season and first at home since Oct. 26, 2012. It was the first time SMSU has been shutout all season. The Mustangs were shutout seven times last season.
Lilly scored off a free kick that was sent in nicely by Devon Richards from 30 yards out. Lilly got in behind the Mustang defense and goalkeeper Brianna Dehkes to deal the fatal blow. The Mustangs couldn't rally in the late minutes to tie the game. SMSU is still winless versus Winona State in 28 tries (0-26-2).
Brienna Dehkes returned to the net for the Mustangs after missing the Upper Iowa game with an injury. Dehkes made eight saves on 11 shots faced. Her counterpart,
Alexandra Vial, picked up her eighth win of the season as she made four saves on nine shots faced.The loss snapped an 11-game winning streak and a 6-game home winning streak.
A WIN OVER MSU MOORHEAD WOULD...
-Be SMSU's second consecutive win over the Dragons
-Put the all-time series at 10-10-3
-Give SMSU's
TJ Buchholz his 24th win as head coach of the Mustangs
A WIN OVER NORTHERN STATE...
-Give SMSU its third straight victory
-Put the all-time series at 12-8-2
-Give SMSU's
TJ Buchholz his third win over Northern State
SEASON FULL OF FIRSTS
The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team earned its first national ranking in program history three weeks ago when the Mustangs debuted in a tied for the 18th slot the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/ Continental Tire Division II Top 25 Poll. The Mustangs have 11 wins this season -- the most wins put together since the 1999 campaign. The Mustangs have clinched their first winning season since the 1999 season. SMSU defeated Minnesota Duluth 3-0 on Sept. 29 to give SMSU its first win over UMD in program history. The Mustangs are looking to break the single-season record for wins (11) this weekend.
SINGLE-SEASON WIN RECORD
SMSU's seven wins last season was the most wins in a season since 2004. With its 3-0 win over Minnesota Crookston on Sunday, SMSU clinched only its second winning season in program history and the first winning season since 1999, when SMSU went 11-9-1 overall, 6-2-1 in NSIC play. With their 11 wins this season, the Mustangs need just one more win to break the all-time record of 11 wins in a season.
