Whats on Tap: The No. 12 Mavericks have a road record of 5-1 this season and are out scoring their opponents 17-2 in away matches. This weekend Minnesota State takes on the Wildcats in Wayne, Neb.,October 17th. The Wildcats (1-8-3, 1-7-1 NSIC) are on a three game losing skid and have been out scored by their opposition by a mark of, 21-7. The following day, MSU heads to Sioux Falls to match up against a 25th-rated Augustana. The Vikings (10-1-1, 8-0-1 NSIC) have won their last seven matches and are scoring an average of 1.97 goals/g.
Looking Back at Last Week: Last Saturday, Minnesota State took on a gritty Minot State team, who had been closing in on the Mavericks in the conference standings prior to the match. The physically played game saw a total of 18 fouls throughout the match. Maverick leading-goal scorer
Korey Kronforst (Cary, Ill.) netted her 10th goal on the year, in a double-overtime game that would see a final score of 1-1. The following day, Minnesota State revamped and recorded their eighth shutout of the year against a visiting University of Mary team.
Lexi Pszanka (Rapid City, S.D.) and
Karissa Prpich (Rapid City, S.D.) each tallied their first goals of the season while
Julia Zach (Oconomowoc, Wis,) notched her second marker of the 2015 season in the 3-0 win.
Stay Hot Kid: Of the 12 games that Minnesota State has played this season, there has only been one where the Mavericks top-two scorers, Kronforst and
Kiana Nickel (Wayzata, Minn.) have been shutdown. Every other game on the year has seen at least one point from either of the two. Kronforst (10-8--28), the senior forward has played in 10 games in 2015 and has tallied at least a point in eight. Her season high eight points in a game came against MSU-Moorhead on 10/3/15 when she scored three goals and assisted on two others. She also recorded five points in a 5-0 win over Central Oklahoma, in which she generated two goals and one assist. Nickel, a junior midfielder, has been held pointless in just three of the 12 games she has, played in on the year. Her season highs include two four-point games against Minnesota Crookston and Sioux Falls when she scored two goal each game.
Scouting the Wildcats: Wayne State will enter this weekend's match with a 1-8-3 overall record and 1-7-1 in NSIC action. Wildcats are on a three-game losing skid. Last weekend, they dropped a pair of road matches to Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State.
Head coach Bruce Erickson is in his first season as head women's soccer coach at Wayne State College. Freshman Christina Stasi and senior Josie Brown, lead the Wildcats with four points each. Junior goalkeeper Kylie Comba has started 10 matches and played in all 12 for the Wildcats posting a 1.66 goals against average and a .814 save percentage. The Wildcats are being outshot 198-144 in 2014 and are averaging .58 goals per game.
Inside the MSU vs. WSC Series: The match between the Mavericks and the Wildcats will be the 11th meeting between the two. MSU has yet to lose to WSC going 10-0-0 all-time against them.
Scouting the Vikings: No. 25 Augustana comes into the weekend with an overall record of 10-1-1 and are 8-1-0 in the NSIC. Augustana returned to the polls this weekend coming in the polls at No. 25. Last weekend the Vikings picked up a couple of victories on the road against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth.
Head coach Brandon Barkus is in his 10th season as the head coach of the Vikings and has a record of 119-99-18. The Vikings are led by sophomore Samantha Tymkowicz, who has tallied 21 points on the year and, senior Stephanie Stevens who has generated four goals and five assists for 13 points in 2015. Sophomore goalkeeper Taylor Machacek is 10-1-1 on the year and has posted a .49 goals against average along with seven shutouts. As a team the Vikings have scored 23 goals compared to their opponents six. They are also outshooting their opponents 245-111, averaging 20.4 shots per game.
Inside the MSU vs. Augustana Series: The Mavericks hold the all-time series lead against the Vikings amassing a 17-2-0 record in a series that dates back to 2000.
Between the Pipes: Senior goalkeeper
Lauren Hoeppner has played 22 games in her career as a Maverick. Within the 22 games the Lakeville, Minn. native holds a 14-1-2 record with nine shutouts and a .40 goals against average in her career. Hoeppner also garnered NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week accolades three weeks ago. Hoeppner now owns a record of 10-1-1 on the season, allowing just five goals over the 12 game stretch.
Climbing the Ranks: Minnesota State is ranked 12th in the six edition of the regular season NSCAA poll after dropping down from #6 in the last installment Oct. 7th.
The Road Ahead: #12 Minnesota State will return home after this weekends road-stand to host Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State in a pair of NSIC matches at The Pitch in Mankato. Both games are slated for 1:00 p.m.
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