THIS WEEK
-The Southwest Minnesota State University soccer team (2-7-1 overall, 1-6-1 NSIC) continues the conference campaign Friday, hosting MSU Moorhead (0-11, 0-8), before welcoming Northern State (4-4-2, 3-3-2) on Sunday.
-Kickoff for Friday is set for 3 p.m., while kickoff is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
LAST WEEK
-The Mustangs suffered a pair of home conference losses, falling 3-2 to Wayne State on Friday before being defeated 2-0 by Augustana on Sunday
-On Friday, SMSU opened the game's scoring in the opening half with a goal by Alex Lotts and assist by Katie Oatman, but WSC rallied with three straight goals and held off a late Kirsten Wetterstrom goal to earn the victory.
-Sunday was all Augustana, who tallied a goal in each half to get past the Mustangs. SMSU was out-shot 12-6, while Augustana put 10 goals on goal compared to the SMSU three.
SERIES HISTORY
SMSU is 13-13-3 all-time against MSU Moorhead, with the first meeting coming in 1997.
Their last meeting came in 2019, when the two first half goals were enough to give the Mustangs a 2-1 victory.
SMSU is 14-12-2 all-time against Northern State, with their first match coming in 1997
Their last meeting came on Sept. 27, 2019, when the Mustangs came out on top in a 1-0 victory.
ERIN KASMARIK-MALLETT FILES
Erin Kasmarik-Mallett, the fifth head coach in Mustang history, enters her seventh season leading the Mustangs, and her sixth season of competition.
Kasmarik-Mallett has compiled a career record of 32-63-4 overall, including 28-52-3 in conference play.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
This past weekend saw 12 freshmen get action for the Mustangs, including seven in the starting XI's.
Redshirt Meghan Harkin recorded 5.5 saves a match in two games.
True freshman Kirsten Wetterstrom scored her second goal in as many weeks on Friday against Wayne State.
Emily Maciel and Selena Prolic each added a shot on goal for SMSU in their 2-0 loss against Augustana
The 2021 season has seen 13 freshmen get action for the Mustangs, with ten tallying starts.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
The Mustangs are 1-6-1 to start conference play
Alex Lotts leads the team offensively, scoring three goals and dishing three assists for the Mustangs on the season.
Abbey Hoisington has also helped shoulder the offensive load, tying the team lead with two goals and having a team-high 12 shots on net.
Katie Oatman has held down the defense this season, playing nearly every minute and taking four shots, including a pair of shots on goal.
Meghan Harkin has started every game in net for the SMSU, giving 1.26 goals against per game.
ON THE HORIZON
SMSU hits the road facing Bemidji State at 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22, and Minnesota Crookston at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 24.
SCOUTING MSU MOORHEAD
Christie Kopietz is in her sixth season as head women's soccer coach at MSU Moorhead.
MSUM has started the season 0-11 and is 0-8 in the NSIC after a pair of weekend losses on the road, losing 2-1 to UMary on Friday before falling 1-0 to Minot State on Sunday.
MSUM was picked to finish 12th in the NSIC preseason coaches poll
MSUM is lead by Ally Peters, who has scored a goal on three shots on goal this season.
Senior Kayleigh Sedlacek has started 10 of 11 games in net for MSUM, giving up 21 goals while making 66 saves.
SCOUTING Northern State
Bob Casper is in his first season at the helm of the Northern State soccer program.
NSU has started the season 4-4-2 and 3-3-2 in the conference after dropping a 2-0 match against Minot State on Friday before tying 0-0 UMary on Sunday.
NSU was picked to finish 13th in the NSIC preseason coaches poll
NSU is led by Megan Fastenau, who has tallied five goals and an assist on nine shots on goal for the Wolves.
Freshman Alexus Townsend has started every game between the pipes for NSU, making 58 saves in 10 games while giving up 1.31 goals per game.
2021 Outlook
SMSU returns two of their top three scorers from 2019 in Abbey Hoisington and Alex Lotts, with Katie Oatman and Jessica Jugovich also scoring goals in 2019.
SMSU was voted ninth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Abbey Hoisington and Katie Oatman were named NSIC Players to Watch.
SMSU PICKED 9TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
SMSU was voted ninth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Abbey Hoisington and Katie Oatman were named NSIC Players to Watch
Minnesota State was picked to top the conference, with Augustana, Concordia-St. Paul, Bemidji State, and St Cloud State rounding out the top five.
REWINDING TO 2019
SMSU is coming off one of its best seasons in recent years in 2019, finishing with an 11-7 overall record, including 9-6 NSIC.
It was the program's first winning season since 2014 and also qualified for the NSIC Tournament for the first time since 2015.
Abbey Hoisington returns after collecting All-NSIC second team.
SMSU IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT
SMSU's lone NCAA Tournament appearance was made in 2013.
SMSU is 2-1 in the NCAA tournament all time, outscoring teams by a score of 5-4.
SEASON OPENERS
SMSU is 5-19 all-time in season openers following this season's 1-0 victory on the road against Black Hills State.
SMSU ALL-TIME IN THE NSIC
The 2021 campaign marks the 24th season SMSU has competed in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
SMSU has an all-time record of 106-149-19 in 272 conference games, finishing with a winning conference record in nine seasons.
MUSTANG HISTORY
Southwest Minnesota State is in its 26th season of soccer in 2021 and 25th season of competition.
SMSU has played 445 games compiling an all-time record of 151-272-27.
SMSU has made 14 NSIC tournaments, and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament in 2013.
SMSU has recorded four winning seasons in program history
