THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S SOCCER… The Upper Iowa women's soccer team will head to Minnesota to finish the final two games of their four-game road trip. The Peacocks are set to face Minnesota State University, Mankato in Mankato, Minn. on Friday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. before closing their weekend against Concordia University, St. Paul in St. Paul, Minn. on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m.

LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… We've got you covered with several live options while the Peacocks are on the road. Live stats and webcasts will be available through the links accompanying this story and at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE. Both matches will also stream live on the new NSIC Network app through Roku and Fire devices, as well as Apple and Android TV. Search for "NSIC Network" to find the app on your relevant device.

NO DICE IN NORTH DAKOTA... The Peacocks suffered a pair of setbacks over the weekend in North Dakota as UIU was outscored 5-0 and lost both of their matches. On Friday against the University of Mary, Upper Iowa was held without a shot attempt until the 79:19 mark, and the Peacocks were down 2-0 by that point following a pair of Marauder goals coming in the 60th and 67th minutes. UIU took the final five shots of the match over the last 11 minutes, but none of their attempts found the back of the net despite three shots on goal. On Sunday against Minot State University, the Beavers connected on their first shot of the match at the 6:01 mark to hand UIU an early 1-0 deficit. Minot finished the first half with a 1-0 lead despite UIU holding a 3-2 shot advantage, and the second period started similarly to the first as Minot State converted their first shot of the half at the 50:42 mark to increase their advantage to 2-0. UIU's first shot of the half came at the 48:17 mark, but their next attempt would not come until the 74th minute. Minot State increased their lead to 3-0 in the 87th minute and would hold on for the shutout win to stay undefeated in NSIC competition.

PACING THE PEACOCKS... Katie Samuels leads the Peacocks with five points this season thanks to a team-leading three assists to go along with a goal of her own. Samuels leads UIU with 26 shots, a total that ranks sixth in the NSIC, and her 11 shots on goal lead UIU while tying for 13th in the conference. Katrina Kazluski is the leading scored for Upper Iowa with two goals. Both of Kazluski's goals proved to be game-winners, and she is tied for fifth in the NSIC in game-winning goals. Four other Peacocks have recorded goals for UIU as Liv Wildeman, Sami Reding, Haley Ramberg, and Toni Powsey have one score apiece. Powsey (1) joins Samuels (3) and Leah Willenbring (2) as the Peacocks to dish out assists. Natalie Rudrud has logged all of UIU's minutes in goal and has secured 26 saves. Rudrud's three shutouts are tied for the third-most in the NSIC.

MATCHING UP WITH THE MAVERICKS... Minnesota State University, Mankato comes into their matchup against UIU with a 6-2-1 (4-1-1 NSIC) record. The Mavericks are 3-0-1 in their last four matches and have won three consecutive contests. MSU's recent schedule has included a 2-2 tie against a Bemidji State University team that was ranked No. 15 at the time, followed by a 5-0 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston, a 1-0 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead, and a 2-0 win over Northern State University in their most recent match. MSU has outscored their opponents by a 17-8 margin and has out-shot the competition 157-108, including a 79-49 advantage in shots on goal. The Mavericks also lead the NSIC in corner kicks with 70. The MSU offense is led by Jenny Vetter, who is tied for fourth in the NSIC in goals (5) and points (11), and ranks sixth with 28 shots. Two MSU goalkeepers have split time in net as Clare Longueville has recorded 20 saves and a .800 save percentage in five starts, while Mackenzie Rath has compiled 19 saves and a .864 shot percentage in four starts. The Mavericks were voted to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and currently rank fourth in the standings. MSU holds an 11-1-2 advantage in the all-time series between the Peacocks and Mavericks. MSU has outscored the Peacocks 36-7 and won nine consecutive matches over UIU, including a 6-0 win in their last meeting on Sep. 22, 2019 in Fayette.

GEARING UP FOR THE GOLDEN BEARS... Concordia University, St. Paul enters the weekend with a record of 4-4-1 (3-2-1 NSIC). CSP's record has fluctuated this season as they went 0-2 to open the year before a 3-0-1 stretch spanning from their final non-conference game through their first three NSIC contests. The Golden Bears then dropped back-to-back NSIC matches but enter the weekend coming off a 4-0 win over MSU Moorhead. CSP has outscored their opponents by a 24-14 margin, and their two-dozen goals lead the NSIC. The Golden Bears have out-shot their opponents 172-78, including an 84-51 advantage in shots on goal. Concordia, St. Paul ranks second in the conference in shots and shots on goal, and their 62 corner kicks rank third. The CSP offense is led by Katie Anderson, who leads the NSIC in shots (47) and shots on goal (23) while ranking third in goals (6) and points (12). Goalkeeper Jessi Jordan has started all nine CSP matches, recording 32 saves and a .762 save percentage while allowing ten goals. The Golden Bears were picked to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and received the second-most first-place votes, but CSP currently sits one spot ahead of UIU in eighth place. The winner of this match between the Peacocks and Golden Bears will take the lead in the all-time series that is currently tied at 8-8-1. The last matchup between UIU and CSP on Sept. 20, 2019, in Fayette ended in a 0-0 tie, and the Golden Bears won the last meeting in St. Paul, Minn. in 2018 by a score of 2-1. Concordia, St. Paul is scheduled to play Winona State University (3-5, 2-4 NSIC) prior to playing the Peacocks.

LOOKING AHEAD… The Peacocks return home to Fayette for a pair of matches on Pattison Field during Upper Iowa's Hall of Fame Weekend. UIU starts the homestand with a matchup against the University of Minnesota Crookston on Friday, Oct. 15 at 12 p.m. before facing Bemidji State University on Sunday, Oct. 17 at 12 p.m.
 

2021 Team Leaders	POINTS	GOALS	ASSISTS	SHOTS	SAVES
UPPER IOWA	Samuels - 5	Kazluski - 2	Samuels - 3	Samuels - 26	Rudrud - 26
MINNESOTA STATE	Vetter - 11	Vetter - 5	Mathis/Thoen - 2	Vetter - 28	Longueville - 20
CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL	Anderson - 12	Anderson - 6	Five tied w/ - 2	Anderson - 47	Jordan - 32