THIS WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University women's soccer team opens the 2023 season this Friday and Sunday with a pair of non-conference matches at Mattke Field at The Schwan Regional Event Center in Marshall.
•SMSU opens the season on Friday facing Morningside University (Iowa) starting at 2 p.m., before closing the weekend taking on No. 13 Central Missouri on Sunday with a 1 p.m. start time.
•SMSU, which is beginning its 28^th season of soccer, is coming off a 3-8-7, 3-8-4 NSIC, season in 2022.
 
2023 OUTLOOK
•SMSU second-year head coach, Clay Glasgow, returns 15 letter winners from the 2022 squad that finished 3-8-7 overall, including 3-8-4 in conference play. The 2023 team features three seniors, 10 juniors, nine sophomores and six freshmen.
•SMSU will look to replace its top three scorers from the 2022 season.
•Sophomore Haley Mason is the team's top returning scorer after scoring two goals and two assists last season to rank fourth on the team
•Sophomore Brooke Wetterstrom tied for fifth on the squad in scoring with a pair of goals.
•Senior goalkeeper Rachel Hicks returns after finishing 1-5-6 last season with a 1.50 GAA and recording three shutouts.
 
HEAD COACH CLAY GLASGOW
•Clay Glasgow is in his second season as head coach and has a record of 3-8-7 overall, including 3-8-4 in NSIC play. He was hired as the sixth head coach in program history on Feb. 25, 2022.
•Glasgow came to SMSU after spending eight seasons (2014-21) as head women's soccer coach at Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) recording a mark of 49-86-5.
•During his last two seasons at DWU, the Tigers amassed back-to-back winning seasons and qualified for the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament both seasons.
 
SERIES HISTORY
•SMSU and Morningside meet for the second time on Friday with Morningside the previous meeting 5-2 on Sept. 3, 2000, in Sioux City, Iowa.
•SMSU and Central Missouri meet for the fifth time with UCM holding a 3-1 series advantage. The two teams last met on Sept. 7, 2016, with UCM earning a 2-0 victory in Marshall.
•SMSU's lone win in the series came at the 2013 NCAA Central Region Tournament in Mankato, Minn., with SMSU earning a 3-1 victory.
 
SCOUTING MORNINGSIDE
•The Mustangs are 1-0-1 on the season and will play at Division I the University of South Dakota on Tuesday night before facing SMSU.
•Morningside defeated Viterbo (Wis.) 3-1 on Aug. 17 before earning a 1-1 tie versus Bellevue (Neb.) on Aug. 23.
•Keyera Harmon has two goals to lead the Mustangs.
•Isabel Ter Weeme has played both games in goal and has made 11 saves.
•Morningside, picked tied for sixth in the preseason 13-team Great Plains Athletic Conference, finished 8-7-3 last season.
 
SCOUTING CENTRAL MISSOURI
•The Jennies are ranked No. 13 in the United Soccer Coaches preseason poll and will play at Augustana on Friday before taking on SMSU.
•UCM was picked to win the 12-team MIAA after finishing 19-2-2 last season and winning its third straight MIAA regular season championship.
•UCM lost in the second round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament.
 
SMSU PICKED 13TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
•SMSU was selected 11^th in the 15-team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•Mustang sophomore midfielder Laney Brill and junior forward Dare Kroeten were both named 'Players to Watch' in 2023.
 
SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 6-19-1 all-time in season openers following last season's 2-2 tie versus East Central (Okla.).
•SMSU's last season-opening victory came in 2021 with a 1-0 win at Black Hills State.
 
MUSTANG HISTORY
•SMSU is in its 28th season of soccer in 2023 and 27th season of competition (2020 was canceled).
•SMSU has compiled an all-time record of 157-286-36, including 112-163-23 in NSIC games.
•SMSU has made 14 NSIC tournaments and played in the region championship of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.
•SMSU has recorded four winning seasons in program history with the last coming in 2019.