Women’s Soccer – The Week Ahead…
 
THE SCHEDULE…
 
UNIVERSITY OF SIOUX FALLS at UPPER IOWA – SATURDAY – 10/6/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Match
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 1 p.m.
Live Stats

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE at UPPER IOWA – SUNDAY – 10/7/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Match
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 1 p.m.
Live Stats
Video Webstream
 
THE SERIES… This will be the first matchup in UIU’s history against the University of Sioux Falls.
The Peacocks have played the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State six times in the past five years, including two times back in 2007 – head coach Brian Bahl’s first year. UIU holds a 4-1-1 lead in the series and defeated the Mustangs 3-1 on the road last season.
 
THE MATCHUP… USF enters this weekend’s matchup with the Peacocks with a 0-10 record, including a 0-7 mark in the NSIC. Despite the winless record, the Cougars have lost four of their ten matches by only one goal. USF dropped a pair of matches on the road this past weekend against Minnesota Duluth, 6-0, and St. Cloud St., 2-0. The Cougars have been outscored this year 28-6, including 18-3 in the first half. Mikenna Greathouse leads the team with four goals scored. Thus, only two other players have scored a goal for the Cougars.
The Mustangs enter Sunday’s matchup against the Peacocks with a 5-4 record, including a 3-4 mark in conference play. SMSU split its matches this past weekend, defeating Minnesota Crookston, 4-0, and falling to Bemidji State, 1-0.  As a team, the Mustangs have scored 17 goals this year and have only given up eight.  Kendahl Fisher leads the team with four goals scored, but Miranda Cadena, Autumn Hayes and Kayla Williams are right behind her with three each. Sonya Smith has started six matches for the Mustangs at goalkeeper and has recorded 42 saves, which is good for sixth in the NSIC.
 
DOUBLE ZERO MEANS DOUBLE TROUBLE… After shutting out six straight opponents, junior goalkeeper Amanda Smith’s impressive shutout streak came to a halt this past Sunday.  The Moline, Illinois native gave up four goals this past weekend to Northern State and MSU Moorhead after only giving up two goals to the previous eight foes. She has started all ten matches for the Peacocks in the cage and has played 826 total minutes. She now has 40 total saves, which is good enough for seventh in the NSIC. Smith is also in the top ten with a .65 goal against average. Her six total shutouts this year is also a conference best. 
 
RANKINGS RELEASE… After last Sunday’s 2-1 loss on the road to Northern State, the Peacocks fell from the fifth to the eighth spot in this week’s NSCAA/Continental Tire NCAA Division II rankings. The Wolves snapped a program-best six-match winning streak. A day earlier, the Peacocks defeated MSU Moorhead, 2-1. To view the October 2nd poll release click here. 
 

Rank	Team	Record
1	Minn. St. Mankato	8-1-1
2	SW Oklahoma St.	10-0
3	Truman State	8-2
4	Central Oklahoma	9-1-1
5	Central Missouri	6-0-2
6	Winona State	7-3
7	Minot State	6-3-1
8	Upper Iowa	8-2
9	Bimidji State	7-2-1
10	NW Missouri St.	5-3-2

 
Minot State falls in at No. 7, one spot above UIU, despite falling to the Peacocks back on September 22nd, 1-0. The Warriors, who are currently in sixth, defeated the Peacocks but lost their third match of the season to Minot State two weekends ago.


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 ten 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 six goals and three assists through ten matches, including two scores from Loescher 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, while 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 Bahl has led the Peacocks to a program-best 8-2 start, including a program record 6-match win streak. Bahl is now 57-42-15 in his career at the helm of the Upper Iowa women’s soccer program. 
 
FOUL PLAY… The Peacocks lead the Northern Sun Conference with 128 fouls this season, despite being one of the smallest squads in the conference. UIU is averaging just under 13 penalties a match, roughly two and a half more than the next closest team. Don’t be too surprised though, Bahl has always taught his team to play physical, and penalties just come with that mentality.

DON’T FORGET… Tune in on Sunday to hear and see the Peacocks match against Southwest Minnesota State. Click here to view and hear the match. The Peacock Pregame Show (12:50 p.m.) will begin ten minutes before the match starts at 1 p.m.