THIS WEEK 
 
The Southwest Minnesota State University women's soccer team (0-0) begins its 2026 regular season campaign with a pair of non-conference matchups.
 
The Mustangs host Ferris State on Thursday, Aug. 27 at 1 p.m., and will then travel to Fayette, Iowa, to face Upper Iowa on Sunday, Aug. 30 at 12 p.m.
 
2026 OUTLOOK 
 
SMSU head coach Clay Glasgow entering his fifth season, returns 13 letter winners from 2025 and features seven seniors, four juniors, three sophomores, and five freshmen. 
 
SMSU will rely on the defensive veteran leadership of seniors Illjana Arbaugh and Sophia Sonnek to help steady the ship at the back. Arbaugh and Sonnek both played in 15 games last season, providing a combined three assists.
 
Junior forward Jada Backes will take a more central role in the Mustangs attack this season, after appearing in 16 games last season, scoring once against Minnesota State Moorhead.
 
Sophomore goalkeeper Kennady Krebs returns after starting in net 15 times in 2025, making 93 saves.
 
HEAD COACH CLAY GLASGOW 
 
Clay Glasgow is in his fifth season as head coach and has a record of 14-47-10 overall, including 13-38-7 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 Ferris State will meet on the pitch for the first time on Thursday.
 
The Mustangs will face Upper Iowa for the 20^th time on Sunday, with the Peacocks holding a 12-5-2 series lead. SMSU has not beaten Upper Iowa since 2019.
 
SCOUTING FERRIS STATE
 
Ferris State finished the 2025 season with a record of 8-5-6, 8-3-3 GLIAC, losing in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinal to Northern Michigan.
 
Junior goalkeeper Korrine Ihrke started all 19 games for the Bulldogs as a sophomore, keeping seven clean sheets. Katherine Welch, the team's leading goalscorer with six, also returns.
 
Head coach Greg Henson is in his seventh season at Ferris State holding an overall record of 58-30-26.
 
SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
 
Upper Iowa concluded the 2025 season with a record of 4-12-2, 2-11-1 GLVC.  The Peacocks defeated SMSU 1-0 in Marshall early in the season.
 
The Peacocks return senior midfielder Giovanna Alexa Garcia, who led the team with three goals, and forward Haylie Hutchinson, leading the team last season with three assists.
 
Head coach Patrick Ritter is in his second season at UIU.
 
SMSU PICKED 13TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL 
 
SMSU was selected 13th in the 16 team NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. 

NSIC regular season and tournament champions Minnesota State was selected as the favorite to win the conference again, with 13 first place votes (coaches can't vote for their own school) and 223 points.  
 
Concordia-St. Paul finished in second place with 203 points and a three first place votes, followed by Bemidji State in third place with 103 points, St. Cloud State with 174 points, and Augustana rounding out the top five with 164 points.
 
Junior forward Jada Backes and senior defender Sophia Sonnek were both named 'Players to Watch' in the Preseason Poll.
 
SEASON OPENERS 
 
SMSU is 7-21-1 all-time in season openers following last season's 6-0 win over Dakota State.
 
MUSTANG HISTORY 
 
SMSU is in its 31st season of soccer in 2026 and 30th season of competition (2020 was canceled). 
 
The Mustangs have compiled an all-time record of 168-325-39, including 122-193-26 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.