The Schedule –

Upper Iowa at Winona State – 9/7/12
7 p.m. – Verizon Wireless Stadium
Winona State University – Winona – Minn. 55987
Live Stats
 
Emporia State at Upper Iowa – 9/9/12
Noon – Pattison Field
Upper Iowa University –  Fayette – Iowa 52142
Live Stats

The Opponents –
The Winona State Warriors have claimed the NSIC title in each of the past eight seasons and now have a bulls-eye on their back. Last season, the team went 14-4-1, but this year the squad has had a slow start to the 2012 campaign. The Warriors dropped both of its early season matches, the most recent of which was a 2-0 loss to Truman State on Sunday. Under head coach Ali Omar, the Warriors have had only one losing season in 17 years.
Emporia State, which went 3-10-5 last year, returns eight starters this season, including goalkeeper Nikki Schmitz and last year’s leading-scorer Mallory Walden. The Hornets are currently 2-1 after opening up with a 1-0 victory over East Central University, then falling to Southwestern Oklahoma State University, 2-1, then defeating Augustana in the Hornets' home-opener, 2-1.

The Series –
The Peacocks have had trouble with Winona State in the past, posting a 1-11 overall record against the Warriors. UIU did, however, earn a victory in the postseason the last time these two teams met. The 2011 Peacock squad knocked the top-seeded and NSIC-regular-season-champion Warriors out of the conference tournament with a 1-0 victory on the road.
Sunday will mark the first meeting between the Peacocks and the Emporia State Hornets.

The Latest Rankings –
The first region rankings were released on Tuesday and the Peacocks are a predicted ninth in the NSCAA/Continental Tires Central Region Rankings. Winona State claimed the number six spot on the list, while Central Missouri earned the top spot and Bemidji State ranked last at tenth.

Hot Start –
The last time the Peacocks started a season 2-0 was back in 2010. That squad started 4-1 and finished the year 9-7-3. They made it to the NSIC tournament but lost to Winona State in the opening round, 3-1.

Nice Shootin’ Slick –
The Peacocks are averaging 14.5 shot attempts a game this season, compared to just 8.5 for their opponents. Winona State, on the other hand, has only attempted 17 shots in their two games.  UIU is also earning its fair share of corner-kicks. The Peacocks have taken 13 corners, while their competitors have taken only four.

Back For More –
The Peacocks are returning 16 players from last year's squad which went 9-7-4 in the regular season and pulled off the 1-0 upset over the Warriors in the 2011 NSIC Tournament's opening round.

Home Stretch –
UIU is almost into its longest home stretch of the season. Emporia State will mark the first of a five-straight home stretch for the Peacocks. Four of those matches will be against NSIC opponents starting with St. Cloud State University on the 15th and ending with the University of Mary on the 23rd.

Tune In  –
Don't forget to click on our links above to cover all the live action or to travel to Winona to catch the game.