MANKATO, Minn.--- #21 Minnesota State will travel to Edmond, Okla., for the NCAA DII Tournament as the fourth seed in the central region. The Mavericks will face fifth seeded Emporia State (Kan.) on Friday, Oct. 9 at 11:00 a.m., at Tom Thompson Soccer Field on the campus of Central Oklahoma.

Our History: The 2018 season marks the school's 24th season playing women's soccer. The Mavericks are 331-119-36 (.718) in 484 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 131-15-11 (.869) record in 157 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 seven NSIC Tournament championships in the 11 years of being in the conference. Minnesota State has made its 12th appearance in the NCAA Tournament this season. The Mavericks own a 7-9-5 overall record in NCAA postseason play, wining twice on shootout occasions and losing three times.

Looking Back at Last Time: The Mavericks (18-2-1) defeated Augustana in the NSIC Semifinals 3-0 on Friday at The Pitch. The Mavericks went on to defeat Minot State 1-0 in the NSIC Championship, claiming their third tournament championship in as many years and their seventh overall.

Senior Morgan Cottew added two assists in the semifinal match and another assist in the championship match to go along with her two goals from the quarterfinals match for the tournament. Her two goals and three assists were enough to be named the NSIC Tournament MVP. On the season, Cottew now has 10 goals and 12 assists for 32 points.
 
Senior Julia Zach (7), freshman Jenny Vetter (4) and freshman Brynn Desens (4) each had a goal in the semifinal match. Junior Dakota Wendell had the lone goal in the championship match for her team-leading 15th goal of the season.

Along with Cottew's three assists in the last two games of the tournament, senior Morgan Seemuth also picked up an assist in the semifinal match.
 
Junior Alexa Rabune was in the net for the Mavericks in all three tournament matches and turned in three straight shutouts for a total of 12 on the season. She currently has a 0.56 goals-against average and a .857 save percentage so far this season.

These home wins now makes to Mavericks 12-0-0 at home this season and have a current unbeaten streak of 33 matches, dating back to Sept. 18, 2016. They are three matches away from the current record of being unbeaten at home for 36 straight matches.

Tournament Awards: Minnesota State had six of the eleven players selected to the NSIC All-Tournament Team. Cottew, Hausken, Seemuth, Rabune, Wendell and senior Maddy Burandt were selected to the team. Minot State had four players selected to the team and U-Mary had the other player. The Mavericks have received six of the last eight NSIC Tournament MVPs with Cottew being honored this year.

Scouting Emporis State: The Hornets (14-5-1) finished third in the MIAA behind Central Oklahoma and Central Missouri. ESU made it to the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament before losing 7-1 to Central Oklahoma.

Freshman Rachel Marshall (7g, 1a) and Kennedy Hoffman (6g, 3a) pace the Hornets' offense with 15 points apiece. Freshman, Jillian Patton, has started 18 out of 20 matches in goal, making 68 total saves, garnering a 1.30 goals against average and posting seven shutouts on the season.

Facing Emporia State: This will be the first meeting between Minnesota State and Emporia State.

Looking Ahead: The winner of Minnesota State and Emporia State will go on to face the winner of top seed Central Oklahoma and eighth seeded Oklahoma Baptist. The winner of those two matches will face off on Sunday, Oct. 11 at 1:00 p.m.