The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team will start the 2016 season with two home games against Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) opponents. The Mustangs will first host Fort Hays State on Thursday at 11 a.m. followed by a match with Washburn on Saturday at 2 p.m.
OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE:
FORT HAYS STATE—The Fort Hays State Tigers, members of the MIAA, begin their 2016 season against SMSU coming off of an 11-8-1 regular season in 2015 with a conference mark of 7-4-0.
WASHBURN—The Washburn Ichabods, members of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, begin their 2016 season facing Upper Iowa on Thursday afternoon before playing SMSU on Saturday. The Ichabods finished the 2015 campaign with a 5-9-5 regular season overall and a 4-5-2 record in the MIAA.
SERIES HISTORY:
FORT HAYS STATE—Southwest Minnesota State will meet Fort Hays State for the fourth time in program history and will play FHSU as its regular season opener for the fourth straight year. FHSU leads the series 2-1 dating back to the 2013 season. The Mustangs suffered a 1-0 loss on the road to the Tigers last season in Hays, Kan.
WASHBURN—SMSU will face Washburn for the second consecutive season and the fourth time in program history. The Ichabods currently lead the series 2-0-1 winning the first two matches before drawing with SMSU 0-0 in Topeka, Kan., last season.
HEAD COACH
Erin Kasmarik-Mallett begins her second season as the head women's soccer coach at Southwest Minnesota State in 2016. She was named to the position on July 23, 2015. Kasmarik-Mallet, the fifth women's soccer head coach at SMSU, posted the most wins (8) for a first year head coach in the program's history in 2015. She enters this season with an overall coaching record of 8-9-2.
SMSU ALL-TIME HOME OPENERS
The Mustangs are 5-15 all-time in home openers with their last win coming in 2013 versus Lindenwood (Mo.). SMSU dropped last season's home opener in overtime losing 3-2 to Southwest Baptist (Mo.).
NSIC PRESEASON POLL
SMSU was picked to finish 14th overall in the annual 16-team Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Senior midfielder,
Morgan Weyer-Coates, and junior midfielder,
Emily Huddleston, were selected as NSIC "Players to Watch".
QUICK RECAP
The Southwest Minnesota State University soccer team finished the 2015 season 8-9-2 overall with an 8-6-1 record in the NSIC. SMSU finished 7th overall after losing to Augustana in the opening round of the conference tournament.
ALL-NSIC RETURNERS
Senior midfielder,
Morgan Weyer-Coates, is the only returning All-NSIC honoree from last season. Weyer-Coates was recognized with All-NSIC honorable mention for her 2015 performance.
SMSU AT HOME
Southwest Minnesota State finished with a record of 4-3-1 at home in 2015 as the Mustangs posted their fourth consecutive winning record at Schwan Regional Event Center. SMSU is a combined 71-76-11 all-time in home matches.
UP NEXT
Southwest Minnesota State will conclude its non-conference schedule with a home match against Central Missouri on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7 p.m. The Mustangs will begin conference play with a road trip to Sioux Falls on Friday, Sept. 9, with the start set for 6 p.m.
