Mankato, Minn. --- The eighth-ranked Minnesota State soccer team starts its regular season schedule with a nonconference match at Wisconsin-Parkside on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. 

Reigning NSIC Regular Season Champions: Minnesota State enters the season as the reigning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Regular Season champions. In 2015, the Mavericks finished 18-2-2 overall and 14-0-1 in the NSIC to earn their fourth consecutive regular season title -- the ninth in program history.

Nonconference Play: In 2015, Minnesota State played to a 2-1 record in nonconference regular season matches, including 5-1 and 5-0 home wins over Southwestern Oklahoma State and Central Oklahoma, respectively. The Mavericks lost to Grand Valley State 2-1 in Allendale, Mich. for their lone nonconference defeat. In 2016, Minnesota State is scheduled to face three nonconference opponents, culminating with a rematch against No. 1 Grand Valley State at The Pitch on Sept. 11.   

Exhibition Play: The Mavericks played two exhibition matches to get ready for the season. They tied Northern Iowa 1-1 on Aug. 16 in Cedar Falls, Iowa and defeated Gustavus Adolphus 2-0 on Aug. 27 at The Pitch. Against Northern Iowa, Minnesota State's goal was scored by freshman Dakota Wendell. In the 2-0 victory over Gustavus Adolphus, sophomore Morgan Cottew and freshman Alesha Duccini each tallied a goal, while senior Kiana Nickel recorded an assist on Cottew's goal.       

Familiar Faces: There are 15 student-athletes returning from Minnesota State's 2015 squad: sophomore Taylor Livermore, sophomore Marisa Berutti, junior Caitlin Foley, Cottew, junior Abby Nordeen, senior Maddy Smith, sophomore Maddy Burandt, senior Dana Savino, sophomore Morgan Seemuth, sophomoreAbby Hausken, Nickel, junior Jenny Hoerter, junior Lexi Pszanka, sophomore Julia Zach, and redshirt freshman Alexa Rabune. 

Top Returners: Amongst the returning players, Nickel and Cottew are the most-proficient offensive threats. As a junior, Nickel was second on the team in goals (11) and points (29). She also distributed seven assists. Cottew tallied nine goals and six assists for 24 points, which tied her for the fourth most points by a freshman in program history. In the midfield, Hoerter, who earned Third Team All-NSIC honors, garnered 13 points on three goals and seven assists. Returning on the defensive side of the ball, Nordeen, Pszanka, Seemuth and Hausken are back from a unit that held opposing offenses to 11.4 shots and 0.59 goals per game. Nordeen, who started every game in 2015 at the center back position, was named First Team All-NSIC. Pszanka, who will be starting alongside Nordeen on the back line, started 21 games and received an All-NSIC Honorable Mention in 2015. 

Fresh Faces: There are 13 new Mavericks this season. The new defenders are: freshman Anna Mixon, freshman Taylor Barzowski, freshman Jessica Ault, and freshman Peri Hoff. Joining the midfield are: freshman Sammy Stoelk, freshman Duccini, freshman Bri Ciaccio and freshman Julia Nellis. The new forwards are: freshman Julia Mixon, freshman Wendell, junior Lauren Kizlik and freshman Taylor Kenealy. Freshman Ryann Rydeen joins the goalkeepers. 

Between the Posts: Livermore, Rydeen, and Rabune have each averaged 30 minutes per game in the exhibition matches with Northern Iowa and Gustavus Adolphus.
 
Scouting Wisconsin-Parkside: The Rangers finished 2015 with a 6-8-3 record under first-year Head Coach Brittany Nikolic, including a 5-7-3 mark in the Great Lakes Valley Conference -- good for 10th out of 16 teams.  Wisconsin-Parkside opens the 2016 season with a home match against Minnesota Duluth on Thursday afternoon. The Rangers' offense is led by senior Jillian Hetfleisch, who garnered team highs in goals (7), assists (4), and points (18). Sophomore Sarah Dobrowolski  started all 22 games in 2015, while allowing 1.28 goals per game.    

Facing the Rangers: The Mavericks are 1-1-1 all-time against the Rangers. However, Minnesota State and Wisconsin-Parkside have not met on the pitch since 1998 when the Mavericks won 6-1.