SMSU soccer opens NSIC action on Wednesday, hosts Lindenwood on Friday

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OPENING KICK
The Southwest Minnesota State University soccer team opens 2013 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this Wednesday as the Mustangs travel to South Dakota to take on the University of Sioux Falls. The NSIC opening game will be played under the lights with game time set for 6 p.m. at the USF Sports Complex in Sioux Falls. SMSU will return to Marshall for its home opener on Friday as the Mustangs will host Lindenwood (Mo.) at 3 p.m.

SMSU opened the 2012 NSIC schedule with a 3-0 shutout win over USF on Sept. 7. Kendahl Fisher, Autumn Hayes and Lauren Douglas all scored for the Mustangs. The game was USF's first as a member of the NSIC and Division II. USF holds a 5-3 edge in the all-time series record but SMSU has taken two of the last three.

SMSU and Lindenwood (Mo.) will meet for the first time on Friday as the Mustangs open up the 2013 home schedule at The Schwan Regional Event Center. SMSU finished 5-4 at home last season.

OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE
SIOUX FALLS -- Sioux Falls will enter Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a 0-2 record with losses to Fort Hays State (3-0) and Nebraska-Kearney (1-0). The Cougars went winless in their inaugural season in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference as USF finished 0-17-1 overall and 0-15-1 in conference play. USF was shutout 12 time last season and scored just eight goals.

LINDENWOOD -- Lindenwood University, a member of the Mid America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, will enter Friday's game with a 1-1 overall record. The Lions defeated Oklahoma State University 6-1 to open the season but dropped a 2-1 decision to the University of Missouri-St. Louis. LU finished the 2012 season with a 5-11-1 overall record and went 0-7-0 on the road.

RECAP: LAST WEEK
Kendahl Fisher's goal in the 75th minute propelled Southwest Minnesota State to a 1-0 victory over Fort Hays State in SMSU's 2013 season opener. With 15 minutes left to play and SMSU hanging onto a 1-0 lead, the Mustang defense and goalkeeper Brienna Dehkes held firm and recorded the first shutout and victory of the season. Five of SMSU's seven wins last season came via the shutout variety. Dehkes made her first career start in goal and the true freshman collected eight saves en route to her first career win and shutout in a Mustang uniform.

Autumn Hayes scored in the 65th minute on a penalty kick to snap a 1-1 tie and lift Southwest Minnesota State to a 2-1 non-conference victory over Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday afternoon. Justine Hauck opened the game's scoring with her first goal of the season in the 31st minute off an assist from Miranda Cadena to give SMSU a 1-0 lead. SMSU maintained the lead into the second half until UNK (1-1) answered with the tying goal in the 52nd minute. The game remained tied until 13 minutes later when Hayes buried the penalty kick for her first goal of the season. Brienna Dehkes picked up the victory in goal for SMSU making five saves.

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