What Lies Ahead:  Fifth-ranked Minnesota State (12-1-1, 9-0-0 NSIC) faces #25 Winona State (11-2-1, 9-0-0 NSIC) in a battle to be on top of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference on Saturday at 1 p.m. Sunday the Mavericks host Upper Iowa (5-6-2, 3-4-2 NSIC) for their annual senior day at 1 p.m. Both games will be played in Mankato at The Pitch at Gage Towers.


Scoutin' the Warriors: Winona State (11-2-1, 9-0-0) comes into the match on a ten-game winning-streak. WSU was on a shutout streak of eight games last week until it beat U-Mary on Sunday 2-1. The Warriors have outscored opponents in the NSIC 20-2.   Winona State averages 1.69 games this season and is tied with the Mavericks for goals against with eight this season. The Warriors only losses came in Colorado against Regis and Metro State in September. WSU has had ten different players score goals this season.
    Senior Melissa Sellier has eight goals and seven assists on the season. Senior Sarah Colleran has four goals, with three being game-winners, and two assists on the season. Senior goalkeeper Anna Belpedio own a conference-best 0.56 goals against average and has a .906 save percentage. WSU is coached by Ali Omar.

MSU/WSU History: The teams have met 18 times as the Warriors have won 13 of those matches. Winona State has won the last four matches, which included ending the Mavericks season in the semifinals of the NSIC tournament last fall with a 1-0 win. MSU's Brittany Henry scored the lone goal for the Mavericks in both games against WSU last year. Winona State Jennifer Deroo and Sarah Colleran return after each scored a goal in the 2010 series. Thirteen of the 18 games between the schools have been decided by one goal.


Scoutin' the Peacocks: Upper Iowa (5-6-2, 3-4-2 NSIC) comes into the weekend after beating Northern State 2-1 last Sunday. UIU has outscored opponents 25-18 this season as it averages 1.85 goals a game. The Peacocks are battling for an NSIC playoff spot, going 3-1-2 in its last six games. UIU averages 13.9 shots per game and has played in three overtime games this season. The Peacocks are coached by Brian Bahl.
    Junior Liz Kaluzinski has five goals and three assists during her 2011 season. Freshman Kali Loescher and freshman Corrine Wronski each have netted four goals this season.
    Sophomore goalkeeper Amanda Smith owns a 1.49 goals against average and a .786 save percentage in her ten games played this season.

MSU/ Upper Iowa History: The teams have met three times in its three year history. Last season Upper Iowa beat Minnesota State 2-1 in Fayette. Brianne West scored the Mavericks only goal in the meeting last year. UIU junior's Liz Kaluzinski and Alyssa Petersburg scored both the Peacocks goals in 2010.
 
The Henry Factor: Junior forward Brittany Henry is currently tied for first in the nation  with Breanna Robinson of California (PA) for game-winning goals as each have seven this season. This is the third-straight week Henry has been tied for the national lead.  

Giving A Helping Hand: Junior Brianne West is ranked fourth in the country in assists as she has 11. The Omaha, Neb., native has had two three-assist games this season with the latest one coming against Augustana (10/8).
    Fellow Junior Nicole Dooher has six assists as Weik, Henry and Vallarelli each have five assists this season.

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