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RECORDS: Both Minot State and the University of Mary enter this match with 0-0-0 records. It is the opening game of the season and for Northern Sun play for both teams.

Coaches Corner: Minot State's head coach is Jason Spain. Spain is in his fourth season with the Beavers and he sports a record 35-19-6 through his first three years. Last season, he led MISU to a NSIC Tournament Championship as well as an NCAA Division II National Tournament Berth. University of Mary is coached by Sarah McNulty. McNulty is in her second season as head coach and fifth season overall on the Marauder coaching staff. She led U-Mary to a 10-8 overall record in her first season.

Rankings: Neither Minot State or University of Mary received any votes in the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America Preseason Poll. In the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll Minot State was voted No. 3 while the Marauders were picked No. 7.

Recent History: The Beavers played five preseason exhibition matches to begin the 2013 season. The team went on a Canadian Tour, playing against four teams and coming away with a record of 1-2-1. MISU then beat Rocky Mountain College 1-0 in an exhibition in Bismarck, N.D. The Marauders played three exhibition games including RMC, Concorida College and Sheridan College.

Noting the Marauders: University of Mary returns a strong nucleus of players from a solid team a  season ago. However, they graduated two key contributors, Midfielder Michelle Jones and Goal Keeper Ashley Akers. The Marauders' two leading goal scorers, Alex Bachman-Williams and Andrea Muller return. In 2012, the scoring duo combined for 16 goals and two assists. U-Mary has shown they like to score early; as a team in 2012, the Marauders scored 17 of their 29 goals in the first half.

Series History: Since 2010, the year Minot State inaugurated the soccer program, the Beavers and Marauders have met four times. Minot State stands 1-2-1 against their rival, but the first win was in a crucial game. In the 2012 NSIC Tournament the Beavers hosted U-Mary, defeating the Marauders 2-1; the loss ended their season.
High Expectations: Minot State had a season to remember in 2012. After being voted to finish No. 10 in the NSIC as a first-year member, the Beavers went 15-4-3 on their way to winning the 2012 NSIC Tournament in Mankato, Minn. In 2013, coaches are the league have noticed MISU and voted them No. 3 in this season's poll.

Across the Pond: There is an English feel to this season's Minot State squad, as three players call the United Kingdom home. MISU's all-time scoring leader, Zoe Fisher (Jr., F, Cambridgeshire, England), was the only player from England for the past two seasons. This year, Chloe Melton (Fr., F, Fleet, England) and Sophie Barrett (Fr., Mid., Swindon, England) join Fisher and assistant coach Sam Holmes as England natives connected to the MISU soccer program.

Family Affair: Sisters Taylor (Minot State) and Alex (University of Mary) Bachman-Williams will battle for the fourth time in their collegiate careers. Alex has got the best of Taylor, scoring one goal and dishing out two assists in three matches while defeating her sister twice compared to losing just once match.

Senior Leadership: For the first time in program history, there are Minot State seniors who have played their entire collegiate career with the MISU program. Taylor Carlstrom (Sr., Mid., Portland, Ore.) and Nicole Matsumoto (Sr., Mid., Fresno, Calif.) are two of the five active seniors (the largest group of seniors in MISU soccer history), are team captains and will look to make their final season a memorable one.

Biasetto Between the Pipes: When Marie Torres played her final match in goal for Minot State, head coach Jason Spain was in immediate action to discover another defensive leader. He found that with Gemma Biasetto (So., GK, Albuquerque, N.M.). Biasetto played her freshman season as a forward, but has made the transition to between the pipes.
Keeps Getting Better: In 2010, the year the soccer program began at Minot State, the Beavers posted a record of 9-7-3. In 2011, the Beavers improved on those numbers and had an 11-8 record as a Division II Independent. In their first year in the Northern Sun, MISU posted an impressive 15-4-3 record, improving their record every single year of the program's existence.

By the Numbers
29: Zoe Fisher totaled 29 total points last season (10 goals, 9 assists) on her way to earning First Team All-Conference and First Team All-Central Region. Fisher was also voted NSIC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year by coaches around the league.

180: Minot State freshman Erika Linch (F, Sutter, Calif.) scored over 180 goals during her high school career at Sutter High School in Sutter, Calif. That mark ranks her in the top ten on the California High School All-Time Scoring List.

0.71: The Beaver defense was out-right stingy last season as they allowed just 0.71 goals per match. 10 of the 22 matches MISU didn't allow a single goal, that includes a stretch of three straight shutouts during a six-match winning streak.