THIS WEEK IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S SOCCER... The Upper Iowa women's soccer team closes out the regular season with a pair of NSIC games, one at home and one on the road. The Peacocks will host the Golden Bears of Concordia University, St. Paul on Friday for Pink Day before traveling to Mankato, Minn. to battle the Mavericks of Minnesota State University on Sunday. UIU is coming off a weekend split last time out at home against Northern State and MSU Moorhead. The Wolves posted a 2-0 win last Friday, before the Peacocks rebounded with a 2-0 victory of their own on Senior Day against the Dragons. Upper Iowa will look to gain momentum heading into the post-season as they take on CSP and MSU. The Peacocks are 7-6 all-time against the Golden Bears after dropping a home decision last season. UIU has a 1-7-2 record against the Mavericks, with the lone win coming in 2010.
TOURNAMENT RAMIFICATIONS... 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 one win and a Northern State loss away from clinching a birth in the NSIC Tournament. With two matches remaining, UIU will try to position themselves for a post-season run.
TWICE IS NICE... Upper Iowa is 8-0 this season when they score at least two goals, and have won their last 14 matches dating back to 2014 when scoring twice. The last time the Peacocks lost when they have scored two goals came on October 26, 2014 at Bemidji State, 3-2. UIU will try to continue that streak this weekend. Upper Iowa has posted four shutout victories this season, with wins over #13 Winona State, Minnesota Duluth, Southwest Minnesota State, and MSU Moorhead.
ABOUT THE OPPONENTS...
vs. CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL... The Golden Bears (4-8-4, 4-5-4 NSIC) went 1-1 in last weekend's two game home stand defeating U-Mary 2-1 on Saturday and then fell to #11 Minot State by a score of 1-0. Concordia's win against U-Mary was their first home win of the season and sophomore midfielder, Brooke Salo scored both CSP goals in Saturday's win. The Golden Bears will close out their regular season schedule and fight for a playoff spot this weekend at UIU and at home against Winona State.
vs. MINNESOTA STATE... The Mavericks, who are receiving votes in the top 25, will celebrate Senior Day on Sunday against the Peacocks, and currently sit at 11-3-2 overall, and 10-2-1 in the NSIC. MSU went 1-0-1 in two NSIC matches in Mankato last weekend. The Mavericks played No. 11 Minot State to a 1-1 draw on Saturday before defeating U-Mary 4-3 on Sunday. Minnesota State is first in the NSIC in goals per match (2.50) and shots (333). The Mavericks are tied for 15th in NCAA DII with 40 total goals.
