MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State women's soccer team opens its 2017 season this weekend as they travel to Topeka, Kan., to face Fort Hays State on Thursday night at 8 p.m., followed by a second non-conference match on Saturday against Washburn at 11 a.m.


SMSU Quick Hits:

- SMSU finished the 2016 season ranked 12th in the Final NSIC standings with 16 points from 18 conference matches

- The Mustangs have four of their top six goal scorers returning for the 2017 season including each of their top three scorers

- SMSU soccer played its first season in 1996 and holds an all-time record of 134-228-27 overall with a conference record of 92-114-19

- Head Coach Erin Kasmarik-Mallett enters her third season with the Mustangs and has a career record of 14-20-3

- Senior midfielder, Emily Huddleston, earned All-NSIC recognition in 2016 after leading the Mustangs in scoring with seven goals scored

- Senior forward, Amanda Hartmann, and sophomore forward, Alli Miskowiec will also return in 2017 after finishing tied for second in goals scored in 2016

- SMSU hit the road to kick off the 2017 season after finishing 2016 with a 2-6 road record


#14 Fort Hays State Match Preview

        Series History

- Fort Hays State leads the all-time series 3-1

- SMSU has opened the past four seasons with games against FHSU

- The Mustangs won the first meeting, 1-0 back in 2013 in Hays, Kan.

- FHSU defeated SMSU, 3-0 to begin the 2016 season in Marshall

        Fort Hays State Team Notes

- FHSU earned a share of the 2016 MIAA regular season title advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament

- FHSU is nationally ranked for the first time in school history after finishing last year at No. 14 in final Division II poll of the season

- The Tigers were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll


Washburn Match Preview

        Series History

- Washburn leads the all-time series, 1-2-1

- Washburn won the first ever meeting, 4-2 back in 2004 in Topeka, Kan.

- SMSU defeated Washburn, 1-0 last season in Marshall

        Washburn Team Notes

- Washburn was selected to finish eighth in the MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll

- First year head coach Davy Phillips comes to the Ichabods after compiling a 44-16-6 record as the head coach at Baker University


SMSU Season Openers

- SMSU is 4-17 all-time in season opening matches

- The Mustangs' last win in a season opener was a 1-0 victory over Fort Hays State on Sept. 6, 2013

- SMSU's largest season opening win was a 3-0 win in Marshall over Nebraska-Kearney back in 2012


Mustang Seniors

- The 2017 SMSU roster features four total seniors: Emily Huddleston, Amanda Hartmann, Fabiana Peiro, and McKenna Peters

- Senior midfielder, Emily Huddleston, led the Mustangs with seven goals in 2016

- Senior forward, Amanda Hartmann, was second on the team in 2016 with five goals scored

- Hartmann and Huddleston finished in a tie for the team lead in shots on goal with 22


Between the Posts

- Sophomore goalkeeper, Jessica Craigmile, started in net for the Mustangs' two exhibition matches after starting all 18 games for SMSU as a true freshman in 2016

- Craigmile posted her first career shutout in just her second college match in the Mustangs 1-0 win over Washburn in 2016

- After carrying just one goalkeeper during the 2016 season, freshman Jenna Meyer will now provide depth between the goalposts for SMSU


Home Exhibition

- SMSU cruised to a win in its home exhibition versus Dordt (Iowa) winning, 8-0 

- Amanda Hartmann scored a pair of goals in the game's first four minutes

- Erin Fisher scored a hat trick in less than three minutes to push the SMSU lead to 8-0

- Jessica Craigmile started in net for the Mustangs while Jenna Meyer played the final 30 minutes