What Lies Ahead: The Minnesota State (6-1-1, 4-0-0 NSIC) soccer team continues its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule as it faces Southwest Minnesota State Sunday at 1 p.m., in Marshall, Minn. 

Recapping the Past Weekend: The Mavericks went 2-0 last weekend, improving its NSIC record to 4-0. MSU beat Northern State Saturday 5-0 and U-Mary 4-1 on Sunday in Mankato. Junior forward Brittany Henry tagged both game-winners as she scored three goals and two assists in the pair of games, landing her NSIC Offensive Player of the Week. Junior Brianne West had a goal and four assists on the weekend putting her at second in the nation in assists this season (7). Junior forward Nicole Dooher scored two goals and an assist, giving her 15 points this season. Junior captain Cassie Weik bent a goal in off a corner kick against the Marauders and collectively tallied three assists last weekend. Sophomore Courtney Vallarelli scored a goal and assist against Northern State. MSU freshman midfielder Emily Moris scored her third goal of the year against the Wolves. Freshman keeper Molly McGough played a half against Northern State and the full 90 minutes against U-Mary, making one save in each showing.

Scoutin' the Mustangs: Southwest Minnesota State (4-3-0, 3-1-0) comes into the game on a two-game winning streak as it beat U-Mary and Northern State last weekend.  SMSU has scored nine goals this season while it has given up ten. The Mustangs have been outshot by an average of 7-21 in its seven games this season. SMSU has scored six of its nine goals in the second half in 2011. 

Senior Kelly Fitzgerald leads the offense with three goals and two assists on three shots on goal this season. Junior Vanesa Corona has two game-winning goals as she also owns three goals this season.

Freshman Sonya Smith has started six games this season in goal for Mustangs and posts a 4-2 record with three shutouts. SMSU is coached by TJ Buchholz. 

Inside the Series: Minnesota State owns an 11-0 record since the teams first met in 1996. Last season, the Mavericks beat the Mustangs 9-0 in Mankato as Henry had two goals and Dooher, Vallarelli, Tori Meinhardt and Ashley Sykora all scored goals for MSU. Minnesota State has outscored SMSU 59-2. 

Program History: The 2011 season marks the 17th year of women’s soccer as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. The Mavericks defeated Winona State in the 2008 NSIC Championship game, earning them the title of conference champions. The Mavericks currently hold a 195-102-18 (.648) all-time record and captured NCC regular-season crowns in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003 and 2007.  MSU has made a post-season appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009. 

 Juniors' Offensive Boost: 22 of the 28 goals from 2010 are from this year's junior class. A year ago, forward Brittany Henry netted 12 goals and forward Nicole Dooher put away seven goals as they teamed up on attack for 19 goals together. Midfielder Cassie Weik, midfielder Brianne West and defender Lianna Morrow each scored one goal last season. 

    This season, the junior class hasn't slowed down as it has 16 of the 23 goals. Henry leads the team with seven goals, Dooher has six, West has two as Weik has one.  

The Weatherman Says: According to weather.com, Marshall, Minn., is going to be 78 and sunny on Sunday, with 0% chance of precipitation. 

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