WOMEN’S SOCCER – THE WEEK AHEAD…

THE SCHEDULE…
2012 NSIC/ US BANK SOCCER TOURNAMENT – SEMI-FINALS
# 2 SEED – WINONA STATE vs. # 3 SEED - UPPER IOWA – FRIDAY – 1123/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament Match
Mankato, Minnesota – The Pitch at Gage Towers  – 11 a.m.
LIVE STATS
VIDEO WEBCAST

THE SERIES… Including postseason play, UIU is just 1-12 against the Warriors dating back to 2004. The Peacocks lone victory came in last year’s opening round of the NSIC/ US Bank Women’s Soccer Tournament. UIU defeated the Warriors, who were the NSIC regular-season champions, 1-0 in Winona, Minnesota. Senior forward Elizabeth Kaluzinski had the game-winning goal over the Warriors in the 77^th minute of action last year. UIU was previously 0-5 in the postseason tournament before that victory.

THE MATCHUP… WSU enters the NSIC/ US Bank Women’s Soccer Tournament for the ninth consecutive season. The Warriors finished the regular season with the Peacocks with a 15-4 overall record, including an 13-2 mark in the NSIC. WSU defeated St. Cloud State at home, 3-0 in the opening round of the Tournament and have now won ten of their last 11 matches. Only the regular-season conference champions of Minnesota state defeated WSU during the month of October. The Warriors have five conference tournament titles under their belt and have knocked the Peacocks out of the tournament three times (2010, 2008 and 2006). Under head coach Ali Omar, the Warriors have had only one losing season in 17 years. This season, the Warriors have outscored their opponents 37-12, including 24-9 in the second half. Mehan Bolton, who has only started 11 of the 17 matches for WSU, leads the team with five goals this season. Caitlin Lily and Devon Richards aren’t too far behind with four goals apiece. Alexandra Vial has started all 19 matches in goal for the Warriors and has a total of 83 saves. On Thursday morning, the Warriors Katy Soliday, Morgan LeFebvre and Rebecca McCoy were named to the All-NSIC Second Team, while Kelsey Foss was a Third-Team honoree. Finally, Alaina Kne was placed on the all-conference honorable mention team.

PLAYOFF BOUND… Quarterfinal action of the NSIC/ US Bank Women’s Soccer Tournament wrapped up on Wednesday as the Peacocks defeated the visiting Beavers, 1-0, at home, St. Cloud State lost to Winona, 3-0, Minot State defeated U-Mary, 1-0, and Minnesota State blew out Minnesota Duluth, 5-0. The Semi-Finals will get underway on Friday, November 2nd as the Peacocks play the Warriors at 11 a.m. and the Mavericks of Minnesota State host Minot State. Click here to view the full bracket.

ALL–CONFERENCE... The official All-NSIC conference teams were released on Thursday morning from the league offices and six members of the Upper Iowa women’s soccer team were on the list. Junior goalkeeper Amanda Smith and senior middle defender Vicki Booth both received First-Team All-NSIC selections, while senior perimeter defender Catherine Bunting earned a Second-Team selection. Junior defender Kelsey Taldone and senior midfielder Valeria Ptasinski received Third-Team selections, while sophomore forward Kali Loescher was also a selection as she earned an honoarble mention.

RECORD SETTER... There is no doubt this 2012 Peacock team is one of the best teams to come through UIU since the program was established in the mid-90’s. UIU has set the school record with 15 victories in a season, they have posted two six-match win streaks and this past Sunday they tied the number one team in the land Minnesota State. The Peacocks extended their regular-season win streak to seven matches after defeating Bemidji State, 1-0, on Wednesday. Also making this year’s squad special is the fact that they are going back to the semi-finals of the conference tournament for the second consecutive year. The Peacocks victory over the Beavers was just their second postseason win and UIU is now 2-6 in the postseason tournament all-time.

LAST TIME... Last time these two teams met was back on September 7th in UIU's first conference match of the year. Hadley Bales earned a quick goal for WSU in only the ninth minute of action against the Peacocks at Verizon Wireless Stadium. Neither team could find the back of the net in the remaining 81 minutes and the Warriors claimed the 1-0 conference victory.

14 AND COUNTING… Junior goalkeeper Amanda Smith is a shut-out machine. Earlier in the year, Smith posted five straight shutouts, four of which came against NSIC foes. But after that streak was snapped by MSU Moorhead and Northern State, she went back to work and recorded a seven-match shutout streak. The Moline, Illinois native has given up only seven total goals this season – a mark that is tied for best in the NSIC - while starting all 19 matches for the Peacocks in goal. She also has a .913 save percentage and has collected a total of 73 saves this season. Also, for the second time this season, Smith recorded another shutout – her 14^th this season – against Bemidji State.

RANKINGS RELEASE… For the third time this season, the NCAA released its official regional rankings on Wednesday afternoon as UIU hosted Bemidji State in the opening round of the 2012 NSIC/ US Bank Women’s Soccer Tournament. After coming in at sixth last week, the Peacocks did not move in this week’s poll after defeating Concordia, 3-0, on the road and tying the previous No. 1 team in the nation Minnesota State, 1-1. Click here to see the full bracket at the official website of the NCAA.

Rank	Team (Conference)	Overall Record	Last Week
1	Central Missouri (MIAA)	14-1-3	3
2	Central Oklahoma (MIAA)	14-1-3	2
3	Minnesota State (NSIC)	16-1-2	1
4	Southwestern Oklahoma (GAC)	17-0-1	5
5	Winona State (NSIC)	15-4	4
6	Upper Iowa (NSIC)	15-2-2	6
7	Minot State (NSIC)	13-3-2	7
8	Truman St. (MIAA)	12-5-1	8
9	Northeastern St. (GAC)	12-4-1	9
10	Bemidji State (NSIC)	10-6-2	NR

LEADING LADY… Sophomore forward Kali Loescher, who earned an All-NSIC Honorable Mention on Thursday, has really solidified herself as the Peacocks leading scorer in 2012. Loescher’s goal in the 75^th minute of Sunday’s match against Minnesota State pulled UIU into a 1-1 tie with the Mavericks. The Crystal Lake Illinois native now has 12 career goals and seven this season to lead all scorers.

UIU’S UNSUNG HEROS… Every match it seems as if a new face is scoring the game-winning goal for the Peacocks. On Wednesday, it was redshirt-sophomore Corinne Wronski who had the game-winning goal over Bemidji State to push the Peacocks to the Semi-Finals of the NSIC/ US Bank Women’s Soccer Tournament. Before that it was Loescher who had the game-tying goal against Minnesota State. Four-year starter Catherine Bunting, who earned a Second-Team All-NSIC selection on Thursday, netted her first collegiate goal in the 103rd minute against Augustana two weeks ago to give UIU the 1-0 victory in double-overtime. A day before that, Brooke Skaggs recorded her first goal in 2012 off a cross from Elizabeth Kaluzinski. Skaggs' header in the 39th minute against Wayne State was enough for the Peacocks to earn the victory in Wayne, Nebraska. In all, 13 different players have scored at least one goal for UIU in 2012 and eight of those players have two or more.

2011… Time and time again, the Peacocks have relied on the scoring threats of the 2011 recruiting class. 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 eleven goals and five assists through 19 matches. Rohrmeier has also played a critical role in the offense as a starting midfielder. She has scored twice and she has two assists. 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 earlier this season against Sioux Falls. 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 14-2-2 start, including a six-match win streak and a seven-match win streak. Overall, Bahl is 64-42-17 in his career at the helm of the Upper Iowa women’s soccer program. In the postseason, Bahl is 2-4 and 1-2 against the Warriors of Winona State.

DON’T FORGET… If you can’t see the action in person on Friday morning, then join the Minnesota State broadcasters online as they bring you the video webcast of the match live! You can also follow along with live stats link. Just click on the following links: Live Stats, Video Webcast to follow all of the Peacock action live!