MINOT, N.D.- The Minot State Beavers women's soccer team (7-2-4, 7-1-2 NSIC) will look to ride their five-game winning streak and most recent eight ranking in the region in the most recent United Soccer Coaches Poll on the road this week in what will be arguably their most difficult weekend. The Beavers first tackle the 14th ranked Minnesota State-Mankato Mavericks (9-1-3, 7-0-3 NSIC) Friday afternoon with kickoff set for 3 p.m. at The Pitch in Mankato, Minn. Following the nationally recognized Mavs will come the always tough Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (6-4-3, 6-2-2 NSIC) on Sunday afternoon at Sea Foam Stadium with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
The Mavericks are coming off a 1-0-1 weekend on the road, first defeating St. Cloud State 2-1, then nabbing a late goal to tie the game 1-1 against Minnesota-Duluth. The Mavericks are an offensive machine already nabbing 38 goals on the year, while holding a stellar defense as well, only allowing eight goals. The Mavs have put up 230 shots with 114 of them reaching the net in some capacity. Mankato has also created 74 corner kicks and are two for two on penalty kicks converting into goals. Senior Jenny Vetter leads the offensive charge for the Mavs, as she has put up 10 goals on the year while creating 58 shots with 29 of them converting onto the net in some form to lead her team in those respective categories. Don't think that the Mavericks only rely on Vetter, as sophomore Maille Mathis and senior Brynn Desens each have netted five goals as well. Senior stud Mackenzie Rath has led the defensive unit for Mankato, only allowing eight goals while making 45 saves and facing 144 shots.
The Golden Bears are also coming off of a 1-0-1 weekend on the road, defeating UMD 2-1 Friday before deadlocking SCSU to a 0-0 score Sunday. The Golden Bears have netted 20 goals on the year while creating 196 shot attempts. 92 of those shots have been on goal to average 15.1 shots per contest. CSP has made 70 corner kicks while converting two for two in penalty kicks to goals on the year. Junior Katie Anderson has been the steadying force offensively for CSP netting seven goals on 61 shots and 29 shots on goal to lead the respective Golden Bears in those categories. Nine other Golden Bears have a goal to their name on the year with three of them netting multiple. CSP has relied upon sophomore Ashlyn Waldon to backstop the net having only allowed 11 goals while making 41 saves and facing 103 shots.
The Beavers will head back home to Minot for the following weekends home-and-home series against Minnesota-Crookston and Bemidji State. The Beavers first host the UMC Golden Eagles (2-11, 1-9 NSIC) Friday Oct. 21st night at 7 p.m. at Herb Parker Stadium. The Beavers will then take to the road to square off against the Bemidji State Beavers (7-2-4, 6-1-3 NSIC) in the "Battle of the Beavers," and with the team that is directly behind them in the standings. The "Battle of the Beavers" will take place in Bemidji, Minn. at Chet Anderson Stadium on Sunday Oct. 23rd at noon.
