THIS WEEK: Minot State gets back to the friendly confines of Herb Parker Stadium as Homecoming 2011 kicks off Wednesday with a match against rival University of Mary (7 p.m.) and concludes with Augustana College Friday (5:30 p.m.).

TRADITION IN TRANSITION: Minot State is in its third season of a four-year transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II. MSU advanced to Year Three Provisional status in July and is expected to complete the transition in July 2012. Minot State was selected to join the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference in 2012-13.

RECORDS: MSU enters the week's play at 3-2-0 overall. UMary has a 4-2 overall record and is perfect in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference with a 2-0 mark. Augie is 3-3 overall and is at .500 in the conference with a 1-1 record.

COACHES CORNER: Minot State's head coach Jason Spain is in his second season after starting the MSU women's soccer program last season. He is 12-9-3 overall. Levi Evans is in his eighth season at the helm of the Marauders and is 86-65-22 at UMary and overall. Brandon Barkus leads the Vikings, sporting a 44-46-12 record in six years at Augustana.

FOLLOW THE BEAVERS: The game will have live video broadcast on the Minot State UStream channel at (www.ustream.tv/channel/minotstatebeavers). The game also will have live stats that can be accessed at (www.msubeavers.com).

RANKINGS: None of the three teams were ranked in the first NSCAA Women's Top 25 Poll. The Marauders were ranked eighth last week in the Central Region poll, while Augustana was 10th in the same regional poll.

RECENT HISTORY: MSU has dropped its past two contests, falling 2-1 in overtime to Bemidji State at home and 1-0 on the road at Minnesota, Crookston. UMary won both matches last week, defeating Augustana (2-0) and Wayne State (3-0) in a pair of NSIC contests. Augie was 1-1 in the same stretch, falling to UMary (2-0) and defeating Northern State (2-1 OT).

OVERALL SERIES: Minot State and the University of Mary began its rivalry in soccer last season but couldn't decide anything as the teams tied. The Beavers and Vikings are meeting on the soccer pitch for the first time.

NOTING THE MARUADERS: The University of Mary shut out both of its opponents last week, outscoring Augustana and Wayne State by a combined 5-0 mark… The Marauders only allowed 13 total shots in two contests and allowed just seven on net… UMary is second in the conference in assists and assists per game, dishing out 10 through six games… Jessica Curl's three helpers in six games is tied for second in the Northern Sun… Alex Bachman-Williams is tied for first in game-winning goals, netting two all ready on the young season… Marauders' goalkeeper Ashley Akers has made 25 saves on 29 total shots on the season.

NOTING THE VIKINGS: Augustana College needed double overtime to get a road win last week at Northern State, netting the game-winner by Mackenzie Trom at 102:30. Trom has three goals on the season to pace the Vikings… Despite being .500 both in and out of conference, the Vikings have been outscored in both categories. Augie has been outscored 10-9 overall and 3-2 in NSIC games… Goalkeeper Amanda Wagner is fourth in the NSIC averaging 5.5 saves per contest.

SIBLING RIVALRY: Minot State University and the University of Mary share more than just geography. The teams also share the attention of the Bachman-Williams family. Minot State freshman forward Taylor Bachman-Williams (Minot, N.D.) will face off against sister Alex Bachman-Williams, a sophomore midfielder. It will be the first time the two will play against each other in a regular season collegiate contest. Taylor has three shots and two on goal for the Beavers in five games played.

STINGY ON DEFENSE: Minot State has held its opponents to just a .83 shooting percentage. MSU has given up five goals in five games, but it has taken a total of 60 shots to get those five. Of the 60 total shots, MSU has allowed 31 on net. While MSU is outscoring its opponent 7-5 so far, the Beavers have been outshot 60-57.

IN THE HUNT: MSU junior Brittany Hunt (Mid, Bakersfield, Calif.) has been around the goal plenty for the Beavers in the first month of the season as she is the team leader in points with five. She has two goals – tied for the lead with Jamie Council (So., F, Atascadero, Calif.) – but has needed just three shots to do so. She is second on the team with one assist.

LOOKING FOR ELUSIVE NO. 1: Beavers freshman forward Zoe Fisher (Cambridgeshire, England) has proved her skill on the field, getting open for a team-leading 11 shots, but has not been able to get her elusive first collegiate goal. Of her 11 shots, seven have been on goal for a solid .636 shot on goal percentage.