Women’s Soccer – The Week Ahead…
 
THE SCHEDULE…
 
UPPER IOWA at BEMIDJI STATE – SATURDAY – 10/13/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Match
Bemidji, Minnesota – BSU Soccer Complex – 1 p.m.
Live Stats

UPPER IOWA at MINNESOTA, CROOKSTON – SUNDAY – 10/14/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Match
Crookston, Minnesota – UMC Soccer Field – 1 p.m.
Live Stats 
 
THE SERIES… UIU has faced Bemidji State seven times in eight years. The Peacocks did not play the Beavers back in 2005.  BSU holds a 5-2 advantage in the series over the Peacocks. UIU has managed two wins over the past three meetings with the Beavers.
In the past, the Peacocks have played very well against Minnesota, Crookston. UIU leads the series 5-1-1 and have won or tied the last five matches.  
 
THE MATCHUP… BSU enters this weekend’s matchup with the Peacocks with a 9-2-1 record, including a 7-1-1 mark in the NSIC. The Beavers currently have a six-match win streak. BSU defeated Northern State and MSU Moorhead this past weekend in two NSIC matchups. The Beavers have outscored their opponents year 20-14, including 11-7 in the second half. Mary O'Brien leads the team with seven goals scored and four assists this season.
The Golden Eagles enter Sunday’s matchup against the Peacocks with a 2-9-1 record, including a 2-6-1 mark in conference play. UMC split its matches this past weekend, defeating Northern State, 2-0, and falling to MSU Moorhead, 2-0.  As a team, the Golden Eagles have been outscored 21-7 this year.  Rachel Halligan leads the team with three goals scored. Megan Flynn has a team-high 5 assists.
 
DOUBLE ZERO MEANS DOUBLE TROUBLE… After shutting out six straight opponents, junior goalkeeper Amanda Smith’s impressive shutout streak came to a halt against Northern State.  The Moline, Illinois native gave up only eight goals over that time span and posted another shutout against Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday, even though the teams ended in a tie. She has started all 12 matches for the Peacocks in the cage and has played 1089 total minutes. She now has 44 total saves and her seven total shutouts is also a NSIC-best. 
 
RANKINGS RELEASE… After a 0-0 tie with Southwest Minnesota State on Sunday, UIU dropped two spots into a tie for 10^th place in the most recent NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II Poll. Kali Loescher, Jill Schechinger, Danielle Weiss, Jess Dickhaus, Valeria Ptasinski, Elizabeth Kaluzinski all found the back of the net once against the Cougars, while Alyssa Petersburg and Madie Edwards rounded out UIU's weekend scoring with a pair of goals each. That momentum faded on Sunday as the Peacocks hosted SMSU and after outshooting the Mustangs, 17-5, neither team could find the back of the net and the match ended in a 0-0 tie. At 9-2-1, the Peacocks are still making history every time they take the field. UIU needs just three more victories this year to tie a program-best 12 wins. That record was set back in 2007 - coach Brian Bahl's first season with the team. That Peacock squad finished with a 12-8-1 overall record, including a 6-2-1 mark in the NSIC. Click here to view the poll.

Rank	Team	Record
1	Minn. St. Mankato	10-1-1
2	SW Oklahoma St.	12-0
3	Central Oklahoma	11-1-1
4	Truman State	9-2-1
5	Central Missouri	9-1-2
6	Minot State	8-3-1
7	Winona State	9-3
8	Bemidji State	9-2-1
9	Northwest Missouri St.	7-3-2
10	Upper Iowa	9-2-1
10	Northeastern St. (Okla.)	9-2

TWENTY – ELEVEN… It is always interesting to see how recruiting classes mature and grow. For the Peacocks, the recruiting class of 2011 has been counted on time and time again through the first 12 matches of 2012. Jill Schechinger, Kali Loescher, Lauren Rohrmeier, Danielle Weiss, Jess Dickhaus, Cat Camic and Kaitlyn Emanuel were all a part of that class, and together, they lead UIU in many important categories. Loescher and Schechinger have become the Peacocks main offensive scoring threats. Together, the two forwards have totaled eight goals and four assists through 12 matches, including a score from each this past Saturday. Rohrmeier has also played a critical role in the offense as a starting midfielder. She has connected with the back of the net twice and has one assist this year. Weiss, who is one of the fastest players on the team, has become an outstanding perimeter defender and found the back of the net on a penalty kick this past Saturday. Dickhaus has commanded respect in the center-mid position, starting three games for the Peacocks and impressing everyone with her passing ability.
 
COACH’S CORNER…. Halfway into his sixth season, coach Brian Bahl has led the Peacocks to a program-best 9-2-1 start, including a program record 6-match win streak. Bahl is now 58-42-16 in his career at the helm of the Upper Iowa women’s soccer program. 

LAST HOME STAND…. UIU will host only one more team this year at Pattison Field. One of the hottest teams in the conference, Minnesota State, Mankato will head to Fayette, Iowa to play the Peacocks on October 28. The match will have added significance for the seniors for both the men’s and women’s teams as they will be honored before the opening kick. The match is scheduled to start at 1 p.m.