THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa women's soccer team will look to snap their two-match losing streak on Senior Weekend at home against a pair of Northern Sun Conference opponents. The Peacocks will take on the Wolves of Northern State University on Saturday before hosting the Dragons of Minnesota State University Moorhead on Sunday at Pattison Field in Fayette. UIU is coming off the wrong end of a sweep last time out at U-Mary and nationally-ranked Minot State. The Marauders posted a 2-1 win after scoring in the 86th minute, while the Beavers used strong defense to post a 3-0 win over Upper Iowa last Sunday. The Peacocks will look to bounce back at home against NSU and MSUM. UIU holds a 5-3-3 advantage all-time against the Wolves after holding on for a 2-1 win last season in Fayette. Upper Iowa has won the last six matches against the Dragons, including a 6-0 win at Pattison Field last year, and is 7-2 all-time against MSU Moorhead.
SENIOR SEND-OFF... Upper Iowa will say farewell to a group of five seniors this weekend. The Peacocks will honor the ladies after the game Sunday against MSU Moorhead, even though UIU will play its final home game next Friday, Oct. 28. As a group, they have compiled 40 wins, including 34 in the NSIC. This group was a part of the historic 2013 season which saw the Peacocks win a school-record 15 matches. These five have combined for 302 matches played, have made 157 starts, and have taken 209 shots. Together they have scored 22 goals and tallied 17 assists for a total of 61 points. These ladies have picked up a pair of conference tournament wins at Pattison Field in Fayette, and have advanced to the semifinals twice in their careers (2013, 2014). This group has enjoyed playing at home, winning a total of 25 matches, including 19 in conference play.
POST-SEASON POSITIONING... Upper Iowa is currently in fifth place in the Northern Sun standings, and will look to gain positioning as they get closer to the conference tournament. The top eight teams in the league will play in the post-season, and the Peacocks are two games back of Bemidji State for fourth place. With four matches remaining, UIU will try to position themselves for a post-season run. Of the four teams remaining on the schedule, three sit in the bottom seven of the NSIC standings.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. NORTHERN STATE... After a 1-1 weekend from home, the Wolves will travel on the road with an overall record of 6-7 and a 4-7 mark in the NSIC. In their first match of the weekend, NSU picked up a 3-1 victory against Concordia- St. Paul after Stephany Estrada and Anna Bondy teamed up offensively. Estrada recorded a pair of goals for the Wolves, while Bondy nabbed a goal and two assists. Bondy continues to stay atop of the conference, as she ranks second in total goals with 13, goals per game with 1.00 and total points with 32. In the 0-2 loss to Minnesota State, Stacey Cavill recorded 10 saves in net.
vs. MSU MOORHEAD... The Dragons enter the weekend at 3-10 overall and 2-9 in the NSIC. MSUM dropped a pair of home games over the weekend, losing to Minnesota State, 2-0 on Saturday and Concordia-St. Paul, 3-0 on Sunday. Senior forward Jessica Johnson leads the Dragons with four goals and eight points this season while sophomore forward Annika Greaney has two goals and four points. Johnson leads with 32 shots, including 17 on goal. Junior goalkeeper Reagan VonBerge has started 12 games in net for MSUM and has 93 saves and leads the NSIC at 7.75 saves per game. VonBerge has a shutout and a 2.52 goals allowed average this season.
