What's On Tap: After completing a six-match road trip with five straight league games away from home, fifth-ranked Minnesota State (7-1-0, 5-0-0 NSIC) returns to Mankato where it will face Minot State (1-4-2, 1-3-1 NSIC) Friday at 4 p.m., before taking on U-Mary (1-6-1, 1-3-1 NSIC) Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
The Mavericks enter the weekend riding a 25-match Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference unbeaten streak and a 27-match unbeaten streak at The Pitch. Those streaks rank 16th and tied for 17th, respectively, in NCAA Division II history.
 
Looking Back at Last Week: MSU displayed its offensive fire power as it got the weekend started with a 5-0 rout over host MSU-Moorhead last Saturday. Freshman Maddy Smith's (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) pair of goals bookended two markers from sophomore Korey Kronforst (Cary, Ill.) and another by junior Rebecca Pederson (Waconia, Minn.). Sophomore Emily Erickson (Woodbury, Minn.) and freshman Kiana Nickel (Wayzata, Minn.) each tallied assists, while sophomore Lauren Hoeppner (Lakeville, Minn.) earned her first career win.
 
The Purple and Gold backed that up with a 2-1 victory at Northern State last Sunday behind two additional goals from Kronforst giving her four for the weekend and six goals this season. Senior Tori Meinhardt (Maple Grove, Minn.) and Smith each produced an assist as the Mavericks improved to 7-1-0 overall and 5-0-0 in NSIC play.
 
Class of the Conference: After producing four goals last weekend, Kronforst received her first-ever NSIC Offensive Player of the Week award. Her pair of two-goal games were the third and fourth of her career, respectively, and elevated her season goal total to six and her point total to 15, both team-bests.
 
Tested but Not Bested: MSU stands 2-1-0 against teams in this week's NSCAA national top-25. The Mavericks defeated No. 20 Truman State 1-0 on Sept.6 and No. 13 Central Missouri 3-0 on Sept. 8; but suffered a 2-0 defeat to No. 1 Grand Valley State back on Sept. 15.
 
Scouting the Beavers: Minot State sits 1-4-2 overall and 1-3-1 in conference competition this season. The Beavers suffered a pair of one-goal losses last weekend falling to Winona State 2-1 before dropping a 1-0 decision to Upper Iowa. Minot has been outscored 11-4 this season. It ranks third-worst in the NSIC in goals per game (0.57) and 11th in goals against average (1.44)
 
Head coach Jason Spain is in his 4th season at the helm of the Beaver soccer program and has compiled a 36-23-8 career record with one NCAA tournament appearance. Freshman Chloe Melton (Fwd., 5-7, Fleet, England) and sophomore Kayla Schlittenhart (Mid., 5-8, Sparks, Nev.) are tied for the team lead with two goals apiece. In net, sophomore Gemma Biasetto (GK, 6-0, Albuquerque, N.M.) owns a 1.46 GAA and .796 save percentage with one shutout to date.
 
Inside the MSU vs. MISU Series: Minnesota State stands1-0-1 all-time against Minot State as the programs met for the first time a year ago. MSU won the regular-season affair 2-0, before battling to a 1-1 draw in the NSIC tournament.
 
Scouting the Marauders: The University of Mary has begun the season 1-6-1 overall and 1-3-1 in league play. Last week, the Marauders fell to Upper Iowa 1-0 before being defeated by Winona State 3-0.  U-Mary is tied for 11th in the conference in goals per game (0.62) and 13th in goals allowed per game (1.88). Mary has been outscored 15-5 to date this year.
 
U-Mary is led by second-year head coach Sarah McNulty who guided the Marauders to a 10-8-0 overall record a year ago. Offensively, senior Alex Bachman-Williams (Fwd., 5-6, Minot, N.D.) leads U-Mary with two goals and 19 shots, while junior Shelby Buttron (GK, 5-9, Olathe, Kan.) has posted a 1.79 goals against average and a .768 save percentage in seven starts in goal.
 
Inside the MSU vs. Mary Series: The Mavericks have never lost to the Marauders and own a 5-0-2 all-time record in a series dating back to 1996. MSU defeated U-Mary 2-0 last season and has outscored the Marauders 14-3 in their seven meetings.
 
Program History: The 2013 season marks the 19th year of women's soccer as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. MSU claimed its first NSIC regular-season championship last year after capturing NCC regular-season crowns in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2007.  The Mavericks currently boast a 230-106-25 (.672) all-time record in 361 matches and a 56-9-7 (.826) all-time mark in 72 matches and six seasons in the NSIC. The Purple and Gold have made seven appearances in the NCAA tournament, including two in a row (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012). MSU has posted 15 consecutive winning seasons dating back to 1998, which ties for the ninth longest streak in NCAA Division II history.

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