MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State soccer team is back home this weekend for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference matches. The Mavericks face Upper Iowa, Friday at 3:00 p.m., and Winona State, Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
Last Time Out: The Mavericks are 6-2-1 (4-1-1) after earning a pair of shutout victories over MSU Moorhead, 1-0 last Friday, and Northern State, 2-0 last Sunday.
On Friday, The Mavericks controlled the pace throughout the first half as they out shot the Dragons 7-0. MSU recorded three shots on goal in the opening 45 minutes but none were able to find the back of the net as both teams went into break knotted up at 0-0. In the 79th minute the Mavericks received a corner kick that was taken by sophomore Olivia Sharar. A header off the corner kick from junior Brynn Desens was blocked but junior Jenny Vetter was there kick in the rebound for her fifth goal of the season to put the Mavericks up 1-0. Sophomore Mackenzie Rath (2-1-1) picked up the 1-0 win for her second career clean sheet and first of the season, she made one save.
In Sunday's match, the Mavericks scored one goal in the first and second half en route to a 2-0 victory. Sophomore Tia Martin scored her first goal of the season off an assist from freshman Maille Mathis in the 35th minute to give the Mavericks the lead, 1-0, which they carried into halftime. The Mavericks scored their second goal in the 83rd minute when freshman Claire Cater scored her third goal of the season off an assist from Olivia Thoen. MSU held on in the waning minutes to take down NSU 2-0. In goal, freshman Clare Longueville (4-1) was strong for the Mavericks where she was called upon to make four stops while recording the second clean sheet of her career.
Top Returner: Junior forward Jenny Vetter is the Mavericks' top-returning scorer this season. With her 15th career game-winning tally last weekend (Oct. 1 vs. MSUM), Vetter is now in sole possesion of third in MSU's all-time game-winning goals list. The Mankato, Minn., native has 71 career points (31-11--73) in 57 matches at Minnesota State. Back in 2019, Vetter led the Mavericks in goals (20), points (47), game-winning goals (10) and shots on net (70), all while concluding the season second on the team with seven assists. This season, Vetter leads the Mavericks again in goals and points with a scoring line of 5-1--11 in nine matches.
Awards and honors Vetter earned for her efforts during the 2019 campaign included being named to the CoSIDA Academic All-America First Team, being named to the USC All-American First Team the D2CCA All-American Second Team, the D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year, the NSIC Offensive Player of the Year and the NSIC Tournament MVP. Vetter was also named to the D2CCA All-Central Region First Team, the USC All-Central Region First Team, the CoSIDA All-District Team, the All-NSIC First Team, the NSIC All-Tournament Team and the NSIC Fall All-Academic Team.
Facing Upper Iowa: The Mavericks are 11-1-2 in the all-time series vs. Upper Iowa. Over the course of 14 matches between the two schools, the Mavericks have outscored the Peacocks 36-7 and won nine consecutive matches. In the last meeting, the Mavericks defeated the Peacocks 6-0. Danielle Tazic led the way with a pair goals in the match
Scouting the Peacocks: Following a hot start, the Peacocks have fallen to ninth in the NSIC standings with three straight losses for a 5-3 (3-3 NSIC) record.
Junior midfielder Katie Samuels is the Peacocks' leading point scorer with 1-3--5 in eight matches. When it comes to finishing, freshman Katrina Kazluski leads the way with a team-high two goals. In goal, senior Natalie Rudrud has yet to miss any action in net for UIU. Rudrud has three clean sheets this season, a 1.24 goals against average and a .722 save percentage.
Facing Winona State: In 30 meetings between the Mavericks and Warriors, Minnesota State is 15-14-1. The Mavericks have won the last nine meetings in the series that dates back to Sept. 7, 1996. In the last meeting, MSU defeated WSU 3-0 with Brynn Desens scoring the game-winning goal. Desens went on to add an assist for a three-point afternoon on the road.
Scouting the Warriors: The Warriors are currently tied for 10th in the NSIC standings with an overall record of 3-5 and a conference mark of 2-4.
Senior Riley Harmon is the Warriors' most-active offensive threat this season. In 482 minutes this season, Harmon is tied for the team lead in goals and points with a line of 2-0--4. In goal, freshman Alyson Jumper has been the most reliable option for WSU. In five matches for 453:17 of action, Jumper owns a 2-3 record with one clean sheet. With 33 saves this season and five goals against, Jumper owns a 1.67 goals against average and .868 save percentage.
Our History: The 2021 season marks Minnesota State's 27th year playing women's soccer. The Mavericks are 358-126-38 (.722) in 522 contests since their inception as a varsity sport in 1995. Minnesota State concluded its 12th season in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2019 and owns a 147-19-12 (.860) record in 178 games during conference play.
Over the course of its history, MSU has claimed 10 regular-season conference championships, including five North Central Conference championships and five NSIC championships. The Mavericks have also won eight NSIC Tournament championships in 12 years of existence in the NSIC. Minnesota State made its 14th appearance in the NCAA Tournament during their last official season back in 2019. MSU owns a 10-11-5 overall record in NCAA postseason play.
Looking Ahead: The Mavericks remain in Mankato to compete in more NSIC action following this weekend's slate, taking on St. Cloud State, Oct. 15, before Minnesota Duluth, Oct. 17.
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