What's On Tap: The second-rated Minnesota State soccer team will continue NSIC play this weekend as they travel to Minot State University on Saturday before heading to the University of Mary on Sunday.

MSU is off to its best start in school history with a current record of 10-0-0 and 7-0-0 in the NSIC. The Mavericks remain on the only team in NCAA Division II with a perfect 1.000 won-loss-tied percentage.
 
Looking Back at Last Week: Minnesota State's defense has proven time and time again that they are one of the tops in the nation. The Mavericks produced a couple of shutout victories last weekend. On Saturday MSU defeated MSU Moorhead 4-0 before defeating Northern State on Sunday by a score of 1-0.

Against the Dragons sophomore Kiana Nickel produced her sixth and seventh assists of the year while junior Korey Kronforst tallied her team-leading ninth goal of the season. Sophomore Morgan Storch and redshirt freshman Laura Schwickerath each scored their first career goals as Mavericks in the shutout victory.

On Sunday against the Wolves, the Mavericks had plenty of scoring opportunities but were only able to net on goal on the afternoon. Senior Emily Moris found Nickel in front and the Maverick defense stood tall only allowing one shot all game.

Defense Wins Championships: The Mavericks lead the NSIC in goals allowed and goals against average with marks of 2 and .025, respectively. Last weekend MSU only allowed four total shots posting two shutout victories.

Scouting the Beavers: Minot State has an overall record of 4-4-2 on the season and is 3-3-1 in conference play. The Beavers come off a weekend in which they were shutout by Winona State with a score of 1-0 and 2-1 loss against Upper Iowa.

Head coach Jason Spain is in his 5th season at the helm of the Beavers program and holds a record of 46-31-11. Senior Taylor Bachman-Williams (D, Minot, N.D.) leads the Beavers in scoring with three goals for six points. Junior Kristin Long (MF, Mesa, Ariz.) and sophomore Chloe Melton (F, Fleet, England) are second on the team with four points each. MISU is outscoring its opponents 10-8 are averaging 12.9 shots per game.

Inside the MSU vs. MISU Series: The meeting between the Mavericks and the Beavers will be their fifth all-time. MSU has never lost to MISU posting a record of 3-0-1 in a series that dates back to 2012.

Scouting the Marauders: The University of Mary comes into the weekend with an overall record of 2-5-3 and are 1-4-2 in the NSIC. The Marauders dropped a pair of matches against Upper Iowa and Winona State last weekend by scores of 4-1 and 2-3 ,respectively.

Head coach Sarah McNulty is in her third season as the head coach of the Marauder and has a record of  16-23-15. Michelle McGeary (M, Gillette, Wyo.) is leading U-Mary in goals finding the back of the net five times and also adding one assist for 11 points. Senior Loren Sellers (F, Kinds Langley, Australia) is leading the Marauders in assists with four helpers.
 
Inside the MSU vs. U-Mary Series: This weekend's matchup will be the ninth meeting between the two programs. The Mavericks have never lost to the Marauders and are 6-0-2 all-time against them.

Program History: The 2014 season marks the 20th year of women's soccer as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. MSU claimed its second-straight NSIC regular-season championship last year after capturing NCC regular-season crowns in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2007.  The Mavericks currently hold a 250-109-27 (.681) all-time record and 59-11-7 (.806) all-time mark in seven seasons in the NSIC. MSU has posted 16 consecutive winning seasons dating back to 1998.

Leaders of the Nothern Sun: Senior Molly McGough leads the league with a goals against average of .280 in 2014 and ranks second in shutouts with five. Senior Emily Moris and sophomore Kiana Nickel are tied first in assists with seven. Junior Korey Kronforst is also tied for first in goals scored producing nine.

As a team the Maverick lead the league in shots (254), points (89), goals (30), goals per game (3.00), assists (29), and assists per game (2.90). In addition MSU has eight shutouts, ranking first in the league, while also allowing the fewest amount of goals giving up just 2 all season with a goals against average of .20.

NSCAA Rankings: Minnesota State remained at No. 2 in the newest NSCAA/Continental Tire rankings released on Tuesday for the fourth-straight week. The College of Saint Rose remained No. 1 while Winona State is the only other NSIC team ranked in the poll at No. 22.

Taking the Advantage: Minnesota State is outscoring opponents 30-2 and lead the league averaging 3.00 goals per game. MSU is outshooting opponents 254-42 averaging 25.4 shots per game compared to 4.2 shots per game for its opponenets

The Road Ahead: The Mavericks will return home after this weekend to The Pitch to take on Wayne State and Augustana on Oct. 18 and 19.