Mankato, Minn. --- No. 18 Minnesota State soccer opens its home schedule with nonconference matches against Ferris State and No. 2 Grand Valley State over the weekend. The Mavericks face Ferris State on Friday at 4:30 p.m., and Grand Valley at noon on Sunday at The Pitch.
Looking Back at Last Week: Minnesota State (0-0-1) started the 2016 campaign with a 0-0 draw at Wisconsin-Parkside (0-1-1) on Sunday. The Mavericks took 12 shots -- five on goal -- but were unable to find the back of the net. The Minnesota State defense, which was led by junior
Lexi Pszanka, held the Rangers to 11 shots, including six on goal. Freshman
Alexa Rabune played all 110 minutes in goal for the Mavericks -- stopping all six shots she faced. Five student-athletes attempted two shots each for the Mavericks: sophomore
Morgan Cottew, senior
Dana Savino, freshman
Alesha Duccini, freshman
Taylor Kenealy and junior
Jenny Hoerter.
Scouting Ferris State: The Bulldogs (1-1-0) tallied a 14-5-1 record in 2015, including a 4-3-1 road record. Last season, senior defender Meredith Smith garnered 19 points -- tied for the team high -- on six goals and seven assists. As a freshman in 2015, sophomore defender Carley Dubbert recorded the third-highest total in three statistical categories: goals (5), assists (4), and points (14).
The Bulldogs opened the 2016 season with a 3-0 home loss to Lewis on Thursday before rebounding with a 4-0 home win over St. Joseph on Sunday. Through its first two matches -- both nonconference -- Ferris State is averaging 23 shots per game. Junior midfielder Rachel Fouts is leading the offense with two goals scored.
Scouting Grand Valley State: The Lakers (1-0-1), who garnered a 23-1-1 record on their way to their third consecutive NCAA Division II National Championship, started the 2016 season with two road matches in California. Grand Valley State defeated Cal State San Bernardino (0-1-0) 2-0 in its season opener on Friday in San Bernardino, Calif., before tieing Cal Poly Pomona (0-1-1) 1-1 on Sunday in Pomona, Calif.
Midfielder Marti Corbi returns for her senior season after leading the 2015 Lakers in six offensive categories: goals (25), assists (17), points (67), shots (169), shots on goal (86) and game-winning goals (9). Sophomore goalkeeper Emily Maresh played in 21 matches -- all starts -- as a freshman. Maresh compiled a 19-1-1 record in 2015, including 13 shutouts. She held opponents to 0.48 goals per game.
Facing Ferris State: The Mavericks are 2-0-0 all-time against the Bulldogs. The two teams last met in 2010, with Minnesota State prevailing 1-0.
Facing Grand Valley State: Minnesota State is 1-3-3 all-time against the Lakers. Last season, the Mavericks lost 2-1 at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. Corbi recorded a goal and an assist for the Lakers, and Savino tallied the Mavericks' lone goal. The last time the two teams met at The Pitch was in 2014, with Minnesota State winning 1-0.
