MARSHALL, Minn. -  The Southwest Minnesota State soccer team will return home this week when they host Concordia-St. Paul on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m. The Mustangs will then hit the road again for a tough test in Mankato, Minn. against Minnesota State. SMSU split its two matches last week losing to MSU Moorhead despite creating a number of scoring opportunities and finishing with their most shots for a single match so far this season. The Mustangs rebounded the next day by winning their second overtime match of the year at Northern State off of a game winning goal from Amanda Hartmann in the 95th minute.

OPPONENTS AT A GLANCE:
Concordia-St. Paul—The Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears will travel to Marshall without a win on their record so far this season. At 0-3-2 overall this season, Concordia-St. Paul dropped three non-conference matches all on the road to start the season. The Golden Bearns then drew their first two conference matches, both at home, to Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State respectively. Freshman goalkeeper, Jordyn Clark took over as netminder for Concordia-St. Paul versus Minnesota Duluth and played every minute of the next match against St. Cloud State. Clark has given up eight goals with 11 saves in the four matches she's appeared in thus far.

Minnesota State—The Minnesota State Mavericks began the year as the eighth ranked team in the nation but have since dropped out of the polls after beginning the season 2-2-1 with losses to No. 2 Grand Valley State and St. Cloud State and wins over Ferris State and Minnesota Duluth. The Mavericks played to a scoreless draw with Wisconsin-Parkside in their first match of the season. Minnesota State has outshot its opponents 82-52 so far this season and outscored the opposition 9-6 through five matches.

SERIES HISTORY:
Concordia-St. Paul—The Mustangs currently lead the all-time series 11-7-1, winning the last three meetings by a combined score of 5-0. SMSU is 6-4 in matches played at home in Marshall and 5-3-1 in road matches with Concordia-St. Paul.

Minnesota State—SMSU currently trails the all time series with Minnesota State 1-15-1 with its last win coming in the NCAA Tournament back in 2013. The Mavericks have won the previous two meetings and were nationally ranked in the previous five contests.

HEAD COACH: Erin Kasmarik-Mallett is now in 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, 215. 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 began now holds an overall coaching record of 11-12-2.

HARTMANN HEATING UP: Following her overtime, game winning goal in the 95th minute against Northern State, Amanda Hartmannf has now scored three goals in the last three matches including two versus Northern State. She currently leads the Mustangs in total shots (16) as well as shots on goal (7) putting up eight shots and four shots on goal in two matches last weekend.

MUSTANGS RECAPTURE OVERTIME MAGIC: Southwest Minnesota State is now 2-0 in overtime matches this season following last week's 3-2 victory in extra time over Northern State. Despite conceding game tying goals during regulation of those two matches, the Mustangs have shown resiliency through two game winners in overtime periods so far. This season now marks the first time the Mustangs have won multiple overtime matches since the 2006 season. SMSU has never posted three overtime wins in the program's 20 year history.

HISTORY LESSON: Southwest Minnesota State now holds a 131-220-26 all-time record since it began competing in women's soccer in 1996. The Mustangs have a mark of 89-106-18 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference competition and have produced three winning seasons and one NCAA tournament appearance.

UP NEXT: Southwest Minnesota State will host back to back home matches next weekend starting with a meeting against No. 16 Minot State on Saturday, Oct. 1, at 12 p.m. as a part of SMSU's homecoming festivities. The Mustangs will then play the University of Mary on Sunday, October 2, at 1 p.m.