What's On Tap: Top-seeded Minnesota State (17-2-2) has received a first-round bye and will host the first and second rounds of the NCAA Division II Central Sub-Region I Tournament this weekend at The Pitch. The Mavericks will play Sunday at 1 p.m., against the winner of Friday's opening match between fourth-seeded Central Missouri (14-3-2) and fifth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State (14-3-2).
 
No. 7 MSU owns a 36-match home unbeaten streak, the 12th-longest in NCAA Division II history and was crowned region championship last year after defeating Central Missouri 5-4 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw.
 
Looking Back at Last Week: MSU opened the NSIC/U.S. Bank Tournament with a 5-2 victory over Minot State in a frantic match that saw MSU race out to a 3-0 halftime lead. MISU cut the lead to one with a pair of early second-half goals, before Minnesota State put the game away with two additional goals of its own. Five different Mavericks netted goals in the win, including sophomore Korey Kronforst's (Cary, Ill.) league-leading 18th of the year.
 
In the tournament semi-finals, MSU found itself trailing 1-0 to Upper Iowa at halftime. However, the Mavericks exploded for four second-half goals en route to a 4-1 victory. Senior Courtney Vallarelli (Eagan, Minn.) factored on the first three markers including scoring two of her own, a career-high, and adding an assist for a career-best five points.
 
Minnesota State claimed its third NSIC tournament title and second in the last three years last Sunday after dropping UMD 3-2 in penalty kicks after a 2-2 draw. Junior Bre Steele (Eagan, Minn.) tied the match with a header off a rebound in the 87th minute, before junior Molly McGough made a pair of diving saves in penalty kicks to secure the championship.
 
Nationally Known: MSU was slotted seventh in the final regular-season edition of the NSCAA/Continental Tire top-25 poll. The Mavericks have been inside the top-10 nationally every week this season and every week since Dec. 4, 2012. Fellow Central Region competitors Central Missouri and Winona State were ranked No. 14 and No. 22, respectively.
 
Scouting the Jennies: Fourth-seeded Central Missouri owns a 14-3-2 overall record and earned the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association regular-season title, before being upset in the opening round of the conference tournament. Friday's appearance will be the Jennies fourth straight in the NCAA tournament and seventh overall. Offensively, the Jennies are averaging 3.16 goals per game and 16.2 shots per game. Defensively, they own a 0.76 goals against average and allow 8.2 shots per game on average.
 
UCM is led by seventh-year head coach Lewis Theobald who has amassed a 109-21-15 career record and is a five-time MIAA Coach of the Year. Senior Becky Lackey's (Mid., 5-4, St. Peter's Mo.) 24 points are a team-high off nine goals and six assists. Freshman Hannah Pyle (Fwd., 5-3, Lenexa, Kan.) and sophomore Julie Ireland (Fwd., 5-8, Lake St. Louis, Mo.) are both tied for the team lead with 10 goals, while Pyle's 27 shots on goal are a team-best. Between the pipes, senior Jessica Grindstaff (GK, 5-7, Lee's Summit, Mo.) owns an 8-2-0 record, 0.73 goals against average, and .806 save percentage in 10 starts.
 
Inside the MSU vs. UCM Series: Minnesota State stands 4-4-2 all-time against the Jennies in a series dating back to 2001.  MSU knocked off UCM 3-0 in Mankato back on Sept. 8, and the two teams also played in last year's Central Region championship match with MSU winning 5-4 in penalty kicks. The Mavericks has outscored the Jennies 18-17 in 10 all-time meetings.
 
Scouting the Mustangs: Fifth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State holds a 14-3-2 overall mark and earned its first-ever berth in the NCAA tournament after being knocked off by Upper Iowa in the first round of the NSIC/U.S. Bank tournament. The Mustangs have averaged 1.79 goals per game and 14.8 shots per game to date, while defensively, they have posted a 0.56 goals against average and surrendered 10.7 shots per game.
 
Third-year head coach T.J. Buchholz has guided SMSU to its best season ever and earned NSIC Coach of the Year honors in the process. Freshman Brienna Dehkes (GK, 5-11, Elk River, Minn.) has been dynamite in her first collegiate season posting a 0.59 goals against average and .879 saves percentage en route to earning NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year accolades. Sophomore Miranda Cadena (Fwd., 5-3, Highland, Calif.) has paced the Mustangs in goals (11), points (28), and shots (72) this season; while fellow sophomore Kendahl Fisher (Fwd., 5-7, Lakewood, Calif.)  has posted a league-leading 11 assists and ranks second on the team with 17 points.
 
Inside the MSU vs. SMSU Series: The Mavericks are 13-0-1 all-time against the Mustangs in a series dating back to 1996 with the lone tie coming this season in a 0-0 draw on Oct. 27 in Mankato. MSU has outscored SMSU 65-2 all-time and has not surrendered a goal since 2002.
 
Program History: The 2013 season marks the 19th year of women's soccer as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. MSU claimed its second NSIC regular-season championship (2012, 2013) this season after capturing NCC regular-season crowns in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2007.  The Mavericks currently boast a 240-107-27 (.678) all-time record in 374 matches and a 64-10-8 (.829) all-time mark in 82 matches and six seasons in the NSIC. The Purple and Gold will make their eighth appearance in the NCAA tournament this weekend and third in a row (2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013). MSU has posted 16 consecutive winning seasons dating back to 1998, which stands as the ninth longest streak in NCAA Division II history.

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