THE SCHEDULE…

St. Cloud State at Upper Iowa – Saturday – 9/15/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Match
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 1 p.m.
Live Stats  

University of Minnesota, Duluth at Upper Iowa – Sunday – 9/16/12
Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Match
Pattison Field – Fayette, Iowa – 1 p.m.
Live Stats
 
THE SERIES… The Peacocks have faced St. Cloud State at least once in each of the past four years. The Huskies hold a 2-0-3 series advantage in those matches. Last year, the teams met twice with the squads tying the regular season match, 0-0, and the Huskies stealing a victory in the NSIC tournament. The teams were tied 1-1 after two overtime periods in November last year before SCSU knocked UIU out of the playoffs with a 6-5 shootout victory.

Minnesota, Duluth rejoined the NSIC as a new member in 2008. UIU has not beaten the Bulldogs in the teams' four meetings. Last year, the Peacocks hosted the Bulldogs in late September only to lose, 2-4.
 
THE MATCHUP… SCSU earned its first conference win of the 2012 season last Sunday with a 2-1 victory over UMD. The victory gives the Huskies a 2-1-1 record this year. Both of SCSU’s victories have come on the road and, as a team, they have attempted 57 total shots in four games, connecting with the back of the net on five of them. UIU will be on the lookout for last week’s conference player of the week Caroline Henderson, who scored both goals in the victory over the Bulldogs. Bailly Drayton and Gabby Fleck are in a tie with Henderson for the team’s lead in scoring with two goals apiece.

The Bulldogs are 1-2 this year and they will travel to Winona State on Saturday before heading to Fayette to take on the Peacocks. UMD has lost their last two matches, the most recent of which was a 2-1 loss to SCSU last Sunday. Five different players have scored this year for the Bulldogs and no player has more than one goal. Four of their goals were scored in a 4-0 victory over Northern Michigan in UMD's opening match of the 2012 season.
 
“SCHECH” – ATTACK… Sophomore forward Jill Schechinger recorded her first goal of the season last weekend against Emporia State. Less than six minutes into Sunday’s match, fellow Peacock forward Kali Loescher found Schechinger with a gifted pass. The Grimes, Iowa native connected with the ball which sailed past the Hornets’ goalkeeper for the decisive goal and the 1-0 victory. Schechinger, who did not break into the starting lineup until the thrid match of the season, has seen significant playing time over the past two matches and could possibly start again on Saturday against the Huskies.
 
SIMILAR START… Looking closely, there are a lot of similarities in how the 2010 and 2012 campaigns started. Both squads earned victories in their first two matches before dropping their third and both lost to Winona State by one goal. The 2010 and 2012 seasons both mark the two best starts under head coach Brian Bahl, but Saturday’s outcome could be disappointing if this starting trend continues. After starting 3-1, the 2010 team lost its first two conference matches. Now only time will tell if the 2012 squad will continue the trend as they host the Huskies on Saturday in their second NSIC match. 
 
TWENTY-ELEVEN… It is always interesting to see how recruiting classes mature and grow. For the Peacocks, the recruiting class from 2011 has seen increasing amounts of playing time recently and have stepped up when called upon. Schechinger, Loescher, Lauren Rohrmeier, Danielle Weiss, Jess Dickhaus, Cat Camic and Kaitlyn Emanuel were all a part of that class and most of them have stepped up for UIU recently. Loescher and Schechinger have made their offensive contributions, scoring a goal each and feeding others with assists, while Rohrmeier has solidified herself as a starting forward. Weiss, who cracked the starting lineup last week at outside defender, and Dickhaus have also made progress recently – earning increasing amounts of playing time each week.
 
COACH’S CORNER…. A quarter of the way into his sixth season, coach Bahl is 52-41-15 overall. He will look for his first career victory over SCSU and UMD this weekend. In previous seasons, Bahl is a combined 0-6-3 against the Bulldogs and the Huskies.
 
FEARSOME FOURSOME… UIU posted its second shutout of the 2012 campaign this past weekend against Emporia State, mainly due to the strong play of the Peacocks backline. Middle defenders Kelsey Taldone and Vicki Booth, along with perimeter defenders Catherine Bunting and Weiss, helped shut down the Hornet offense and will be counted on to do the same this weekend. Booth and Bunting are both seniors this year and their play can set the tone of a match for UIU.

DON'T FORGET... Catch all of the Peacock action for every match with our live stats link listed under each game.