THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S SOCCER… Upper Iowa opens their 2021 campaign on the road against the Missouri Southern State University. The Peacocks will play the Lions at 1 p.m. on Friday, Sep. 3 in Mankato, Minn. in what will be their first official game since a 1-0 win in overtime over Winona State on Nov. 8, 2019 after the 2020 season was canceled due to the global pandemic.
LIVE COVERAGE OPTIONS… We've got you covered with several live options while the Peacocks are on the road. Live stats and a webcast will be available through the links in this story and at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE. The games 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. Look for the UIU and Mankato logos on NSIC Network as our match with MSSU will be played on Mankato's field.
THE PEACOCK FLOCK… Upper Iowa is excited to return to the field this fall. After a busy spring of friendlies against both conference and non-conference opponents, Upper Iowa is poised to make a run in the Northern Sun Conference and return to the postseason tournament. Head Coach
James Price returns for his sixth season with UIU and he brings back some great experience led by NSIC Players to Watch
Haley Ramberg and
Aimee Sies. Ramberg will pace the Peacock attack this season; through her first two years she has played in 31 matches and scored 5 goals. The junior made huge strides last spring and became a force for defenders to deal with. Sies also returns for her junior season after earning All-NSIC honorable mention honors in 2019. The Brooklyn, Wis. native, who scored two goals in 2019, leads the defensive line in front of senior goalkeeper
Natalie Rudrud. Rudrud started all 36 matches in her first two seasons and grabbed 254 saves earning a NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week award in each of those seasons. UIU also returns experience in the form of
Katie Samuels,
Credence White,
Grace Birdsley, and
Leah Willenbring as UIU looks to return to the NSIC Championships for the first time since 2016.
NSIC PRESEASON COACHES' POLL… The Peacock women's soccer team was picked fifteenth in the Northern Sun Conference Preseason Soccer Coaches' Poll. Minnesota State University, Mankato, the four-time defending NSIC Tournament Champion, was picked to win the NSIC in the preseason coaches' poll. The Mavericks received nine first place votes and tallied 218 points, ranking them ahead of Augustana (202), which received three first place votes. The defending NSIC Regular Season Champions (2019) of Concordia-St. Paul came in third with 200 points and the other four first place votes.
LINING UP AGAINST THE LIONS... Missouri Southern State University was picked to finish 10th out of 12 teams in the 2021 MIAA women's soccer coaches poll. Coming off a 4-9 overall (1-4 MIAA) spring season the Lions made a return to the MIAA postseason tournament for the first time since 2017. The Lions will have a team of 17 returning players from the spring season with 11 that started in a game during the season and 17 newcomers. Returning in goal for the Lions are Riley Laver and Laney Graham who will be in contention with Division I transfer Lilly Doneghue to get minutes this season. The Lions return second-team All-MIAA selection Rylie Johnson on the defensive line, and the midfield features a return of the leading goal scorer from the spring, Maya Greenquist, as well as graduate transfer from Southwestern Minnesota State, Allie Cook, who was an All-NSIC selection in 2019.
LOOKING AHEAD… The Peacocks next match is against the University of Wisconsin - Parkside at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Sep. 12 in Kenosha, Wis. UIU will play their home opener and start conference play against Southwest Minnesota State University on Pattison Field in Fayette on Friday, Sep. 17 at 2:00 p.m. Fans can cheer on the Peacocks from the stands or follow along via webcast and live stats at UIUPeacocks.com/LIVE.
