What's On Tap: The Minnesota State women's soccer program begins the 2015 season as it opens up at home to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday at 3 p.m. and Central Oklahoma on Sunday at 12 p.m.

The Mavericks are coming off a season in which they finished 22-1, establishing a single season wins record for the program. MSU claimed the NSIC regular season and tournament titles while also making their seventh-straight NCAA tournament appearance in 2014., In all, MSU will be returning six starters including the 2014 NSIC leader in points senior Korey Kronforst. Minnesota State also welcomes in eight new comers including seven freshman.

Beat the Best to Be the Best:  Minnesota State travels to Alendale, Mich. for its fourth game of the 2015 season as it takes on No. 1 ranked and defending National Champion, Grand Valley State University., Last season the Mavericks hosted No. 1 GVSU for their fourth game of the season and upset the Lakers in a 1-0 victory., Kronforst ended the game with what proved to be the game winner in the 81st minute on a breakaway goal.

Familiar Faces:  Last season, the Mavericks traveled to the Sooner State to take on Southwestern Oklahoma State and Central Oklahoma to open up the 2014 regular season., In the first match, the Mavericks shutout Southwestern Oklahoma in a 1-0 victory and followed suit in the second match shutting out Central Oklahoma 3-0., Kronforst netted two goals in the victory over Central Oklahoma.

Looking Back at Preseason Play: The Mavericks went 3-0 in exhibition play allowing just one goal over the three matches. MSU had a pair of shutouts over Hamline University (2-0) and the Elite Girls Academy (3-0) while the beat Grand View University in a scrimmage match (5-1).

MSU scored ten goals during preseason play while allowing just one in the three match span. Senior Korey Kronforst lead the way scoring three of the ten goals. Sophomore Laura Schwickerath followed netting two of her own, while juniors Sidni Trotter, Dana Savino and Karissa Prpich, along with freshman Maddy Burandt and Maddie Raley scored one of their own.

Scouting the Bulldogs: Southwestern Oklahoma State is coming off a 2014 campaign in which it finished with a 2-13-3 overall record and 2-6-2 in conference play. The Bulldogs return 17 letterwinners from 2014.

Head coach Mark Persson is entering his 7th season at the helm of the Bulldog program and is the all-time winningest coach with a record of, 55-49-11. Southwestern Oklahoma State returns Senior Ashlee Beitinger (Mf., Denton, Texas) who has two Second Team All-GAC and one First Team All-GAC honors under her belt., Joining Beitinger is other First Team All-GAC honoree Charlotte Eastman (Salisbury, England)., SWOSU also brings back two Second Team All-GAC selections in senior Cori Kelly (Rockwall, Texas) and sophomore Olivia Butler (Oklahoma City, Okla.).

Inside the MSU vs. SWOSU Series: Minnesota state has only played SWOSU one other time., The Mavericks hold the advantage in the series 1-0 beating the Bulldogs 1-0 in 2014.

Scouting the Bronchos: The University of Central Oklahoma is coming off a 2014 season that saw the Bronchos finish 14-5-3 overall, including a 9-3-2 mark in the MIAA finishing in fourth place. UCO returns 14 letterwinners from a team that made it to the second round of the NCAA DII Tournament, including 12 that started ten games or more.

Head coach Mike Cook has been the head coach of the Bronchos since the programs inception in 1998, owning a 253-90-24 career record. UCO returns senior Quinn Tookey (Def., Colleyville, Texas) who received National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II All-America Second Team honors in 2014.

Inside the MSU vs. UCO, Series: Minnesota State owns a 2-0-0 record against Central Oklahoma beating them in the 2012 NCAA Central Region Tournament 1-0 and in 2014,, 3-0.

Program History: The 2015 season marks the 21st year of women's soccer as a varsity sport at Minnesota State. MSU claimed its third-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 262-110-27 (.724) all-time record and 69-11-7 (.874) all-time mark in six seasons in the NSIC. MSU has posted 17 consecutive winning seasons dating back to 1998.

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