THIS WEEKEND IN PEACOCK WOMEN'S SOCCER… The Upper Iowa women's soccer team hits the road to start a four-game stretch playing away from Fayette. The Peacocks head north to face the University of Mary in Bismarck, N.D. on Friday, Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. before a matchup with Minot State University in Minot, N.D. on Sunday, Oct. 3 at 12 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.

WEATHERING THE BULLDOGS... Against the University of Minnesota Duluth, Upper Iowa withstood rainy, windy conditions and overcame their first deficit of the season to stay undefeated on the year. The wet conditions impacted the first goal of the match when Natalie Rudrud attempted to dive on a ball in the box to stop a UMD offensive attack but had the ball slip out and find the back of the net after a Bulldog player cleaned up the miscue to take a 1-0 lead over UIU. The Bulldogs finished the half with a 5-3 shot advantage that included a 3-2 advantage in shots on goal and also notched a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks, but the Peacocks turned things around with an 8-3 shot advantage in the second period that included a 6-2 advantage in shots on goal. Upper Iowa converted their fifth shot of the second period at the 62:09 mark when Toni Powsey put in a header off an assist from a Leah Willenbring corner kick to tie the match at 1-1. The Peacocks made an attack in the 67th minute that saw Katie Samuels rip a shot from inside the box that was saved by UMD before Katrina Kazluski cleaned up the rebound and put in the go-ahead goal off an assist from Samuels at the 66:25 mark. Minnesota Duluth had a couple of dangerous attacks late in the match, but the Upper Iowa defense held strong to secure the 2-1 win and improve to 5-0 (3-0 NSIC).

SETBACK AGAINST ST. CLOUD... Against St. Cloud State University, the Peacocks were unable to continue their winning ways as the Huskies handed UIU their first loss of the season. SCSU set the tone early as they earned a pair of corner kicks in the fourth minute before scoring in the fifth minute to take a 1-0 lead. The visitors doubled their score at the 19:01 mark after scoring on a set piece following a corner kick, and the momentum never left the SCSU side. UIU's first shot on goal did not come until the 35th minute. The Peacocks recorded the first shot of the second half in the 50th minute, but their final shot of the match would come at the 61:27 mark as St. Cloud controlled the second period. The Huskies scored again in the 73rd minute to secure a 3-0 lead that they would not relinquish. St. Cloud finished with a 17-6 shot advantage over Upper Iowa that included a 10-2 advantage in the second half, and the Peacocks only put one shot on goal that came from well outside the box, while the Huskies recorded 11 shots on goal.

2021'S SIMILAR START TO 2012... This 2021 Upper Iowa team's 5-0 (3-0 NSIC) start is the best in the history of the program as the 2012 squad is the only other team to start 2-0. Even after the loss that dropped UIU to 5-1 (3-1 NSIC), the Peacocks are looking to match that same 2012 team's program-best 8-1 (5-1 NSIC) start to the season. That 2012 squad finished with a program-best 15-3-2 (11-2-2 NSIC) record.

MANAGING THE MARAUDERS... The University of Mary comes into their matchup against UIU with an 4-1-2 (3-0-1 NSIC) record. The Marauders went 1-1-2 to open their season, but UMary has won their last three matches ahead of their contest with UIU. UMary has won their last three matches by a score of 1-0 over NSIC opponents from UMD, USF, and SMSU. The Marauders have taken the same number of shots (75) as their opponents over the season while putting one more shot on goal (41) than their competition (40), but UMary has made their chances count by outscoring opponents 9-5 on the year. UMary's 0.71 goals allowed average is the best in the NSIC, with UIU's 0.83 mark ranking second. The strong Marauder defense is led by goalkeeper Madisyn Waltman as her .672 goals against average is the best in the NSIC among goalies with more than two games. Waltman's four shutouts lead the NSIC while .875 save percentage ranks fourth and her 35 saves rank fifth. The University of Mary was voted to finish sixth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll and is currently tied for the second-best conference mark. UMary holds a 7-4 advantage in the all-time series between the Peacocks and Marauders as UMary won the three meetings before the teams alternated four-game win streaks. The Marauders picked up a 2-1 win in their last meeting on Oct. 27, 2019, in Fayette.

BESTING THE BEAVERS... Minot State University enters the weekend with a record of 5-2-0 (4-0-0 NSIC). Minot State dropped their first two matches of the season in non-conference play, including a 1-0 loss to No. 13 Westminster College, but the Beavers bounced back and rattled off five straight wins as they have stayed perfect to start NSIC competition. Minot hangs their hat on the defensive side of the ball as they have not scored more than two goals this season, but have only once allowed more than one goal. In their last two matches before this weekend, the Beavers came back against SMSU to claim a 2-1 win after being down one at the half. Minot scored the game-winning goal at the 88:32 mark just before the end of the match. Against USF, the Beavers compiled a 2-0 lead before winning the match by a score of 2-1. The Minot State offense is led by Sofia Lewis and Chloe Allen as the forward duo is tied for second in the NSIC with four goals apiece. Goalkeeper Maddie Kindred's 47 saves are the second-most in the conference and her .870 save percentage ranks fourth. Minot State was picked to finish 10th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, but the Beavers are currently the first-place team in the conference. The winner of this match between the Peacocks and Beavers will take the lead in the all-time series that is currently tied at 5-5. UIU won the first four matches from 2012-14 before Minot won five in a row from 2015-18, but Upper Iowa won the last matchup by a score of 2-0 in Fayette on Oct. 25, 2019. The Beavers are scheduled to play Winona State University (3-3, 2-2 NSIC) prior to playing the Peacocks.

LOOKING AHEAD… The Peacocks continue their road trip by heading to Minnesota for a match against Minnesota State University, Mankato on Friday, Oct. 8 at 3 p.m. in Mankato, Minn. before a match against Concordia University, St. Paul on Sunday, Oct. 10 at 1 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.
 

2021 Team Leaders	POINTS	GOALS	ASSISTS	SHOTS	SAVES
UPPER IOWA	Samuels - 5	Kazluski - 2	Samuels - 3	Samuels - 21	Rudrud - 22
UMARY	Richter - 6	Richter/Park - 2	Alcott - 3	Richter - 19	Waltman - 35
MINOT STATE	Lewis/Allen - 8	Lewis/Allen - 4	Schennum/Van walstijn - 2	Lewis - 31	Kindred - 47