MANKATO, Minn.--- #23 Minnesota State returns The Pitch after being on the road for five matches. On Friday, Northern State will come to town with the match beginning at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, Minnesota State will welcome MSU Moorhead to Mankato with the game beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Our History: The 2018 season marks the school's 24th season playing women's soccer. The Mavericks are 324-119-36 (.714) in 479 games since their inception as a varsity sport in 1995. Minnesota State is in its 10th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and owns a 127-15-11 (.866) record in 153 games during conference play. Over the course of history, MSU has claimed 10 regular season conference championships, including five NCC championships and five NSIC championships. The Mavericks have also won six NSIC Tournament championships in the 10 years of being in the conference. Minnesota State made its 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Mavericks own a 7-8-4 overall record in NCAA postseason play, wining twice on shootout occasions and losing three times.

Looking Back at Last Week: The Mavericks (11-2-1, 9-1-1 NSIC) went 2-1 last week in three road conference matches defeating Concordia-St. Paul 3-1 on Tuesday and Minnesota Crookston 8-0 on Friday. On Sunday, Minnesota State fell to #5 Bemidji State 3-2 in double overtime. 

High Powered Offense: The Mavericks had another big week on the offensive end, scoring 13 goals over three games. Leading the way was junior Dakota Wendell who scored in all three games and had four total goals through the week. That grew her season total to 10 goals and brought her season point total to 26. Senior Morgan Cottew (6) and freshman Jenny Vetter (2) had two goals through the week. Senior Julia Zach (6), junior Alesha Duccini (3), sophomore Molly Riley (5), and freshmen Brooke Valiukas and Caitlin Brown scored a goal this week. Valiukas' and Brown's goals were the first of their careers.

A total of 12 assists were also tallied this past week with Wendell (6) having two then seniors Maddy Burandt (2), Abby Hausken (4), Morgan Seemuth (2), Cottew (7), juniors Bri Ciaccio (2), Duccini (3), sophomore Molly Sarafolean (2), freshmen Brynn Desens (2), Kelly Friedrich (1), and Nadia Lowery (2) each assisting on goals.
 
Junior Alexa Rabune was in the net all 285 minutes for the Mavericks this week. Rabune picked up her sixth shutout of the season with the win over Minnesota Crookston. She currently has a 0.76 goals-against average and a .804 save percentage.

Regional Rankings: The first NCAA DII regional rankings came out on Wednesday and the Mavericks sit in fourth in the Central Region.

Scouting Northern State: The Wolves (7-6-1, 5-5-1 NSIC) currently sit eighth in the NSIC and went 1-1 at home last week losing to Augustana 1-0 on Friday and defeating Wayne State 4-3 on Sunday. NSU is 2-3 on the road this season with their last road win coming against SMSU on Sept. 21. All-time, MSU is 12-1-1 against NSU, winning the last seven matches.

Senior Darian Leschewski is leading the Wolves in goals with five while totaling 11 points. Freshman Jessica Otto has started in 10 out of the 14 matches for NSU, making 73 total saves, garnering a 1.23 goals against average and posting two shutouts on the season.
 
Facing Northern State: The Mavericks won the only matchup last season 4-0 over the Wolves. Junior Taylor Kenealy, Sarafolean and recently departed Jenny Hoerter and Abby Nordeen all scored for MSU.

Scouting MSU Moorhead: The Dragons (3-10-0, 3-8-0 NSIC) currently sits tied for 13th in the NSIC and went 1-1 at home last week defeating Wayne State 1-0 on Friday and losing to Augustana 2-0 on Sunday. MSU Moorhead is 1-4 on the road this year with the only win being against SMSU on Sept. 23. All-time, the Mavericks are 14-2-0 against MSU Moorhead winning the last 13 matchups and not allowing a goal in the last 11 matches.

Sophomore Carly Jo Gamrath leads the way for the Dragons with two goals and two assists for six points. Freshman Kayleigh Sadlacek has started all 12 of the 13 matches in net while making 112 saves, garnering a 1.46 goals against average and having two shutouts.

Facing MSU Moorhead: The Mavericks defeated the Dragons 3-0 in the only match last season with Zach scoring two goals and recently departed Lauren Kizlik scoring the other goal.

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks' final weekend of regular season conference matches starts with a road game in Sioux Falls, S.D., against Augustana starting at 3:00 p.m., on Friday, Oct. 26. The Mavericks return to The Pitch for their final regular season match and senior day against Wayne State starting at 1:00 p.m., on Sunday, Oct. 28.