The University of Minnesota Duluth women’s soccer team is back on the road this weekend (Oct. 10-11) for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate matches. The Bulldogs will first travel to Aberdeen, S.D. Saturday to face Northern State University in a 10:00 a.m. kickoff and Sunday UMD will battle Southwest Minnesota State University in a 1:00 p.m. start in Marshall, Minn.

THE BULLDOGS VERSUS NORTHERN STATE: The Wolves meet the Bulldogs with a 8-1-2 overall record and are 1-1-1 in the NSIC. In its most recent action, NSU lost an overtime match to Bemidji State, 1-0 and played to a 1-1 tie with the University of Minnesota-Crookston. The team is led by Melissa Gamble. Her 10 goals added with her assist has her as the top point-getter in the conference. She is followed closely by teammate Jessi Hambrick. In 2003 Hambrick has netted 7 goals while adding three assists for 17 points, ranking second in both points and goals in the NSIC. Not only does NSU have a potent offense, the Wolves' goaltender Emily Herbst also leads the NSIC in goals against average allowing only eight goals in nine games for a 0.84 GAA.

UMD and NSU have met on six other occasions in the brief history between the programs. UMD owns the series record wining five of the six contest and settling for a tie in the other. IN the last meeting between the teams, UMD come out on top winning the game by the score of 2-0 (10/20).

THE BULLDOGS VERSUS SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE: The 3-8 Mustangs host the Bulldogs after playing Concordia University-St. Paul Saturday. Last weekend SMSU split a pair of NSIC contest, losing to the University of Minnesota-Crookston 2-1 but bounced back to beat Minnesota State University-Moorhead 3-1 the following day. The Mustangs balanced scoring attack is led by Noelle Begman who has collected three goals and two assists to this point of the season. In the net for SMSU will most likely be Laura Moldenhauser. She has a record of 3-7 this season and has posted a save percentage of just under .700.

THE NSIC: The Bulldogs enter their tenth season in search of UMD's fifth conference crown. After taking the regular season NSIC championship with a 14-4-2 record (8-1 NSIC), UMD had their season ended at the NSIC Tournament by the eventual tournament champion Winona State.

2003 NSIC STANDINGS

Team Overall/NSIC

1. Minnesota-Duluth (4-3-2, 2-0)

2. Minnesota-Crookston (6-4-2, 1-0-1)

3. Winona State (4-8-0, 3-1-0)

4. Northern State (8-1-2, 1-1-1)

5. Concordia-St. Paul (3-8-0, 1-1-0)

6. Southwest Minnesota State (3-8-0, 1-1-0)

7. Wayne State (Neb.) (2-8-0, 1-1-0)

8. Bemidji State (2-9-1, 1-3-0)

9. MSU-Moorhead (2-9-0. 0-3-0)

THE COACH: Greg Cane (College of St. Scholastica, 1983) begins his tenth year as the head coach of the Bulldogs. Cane, who sports a career record of 108-40-11, has led UMD to four Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles (1997, 1998, 2001 and 2002) and one appearance in the NCAA Division II tournament (2000).

LAST WEEK FOR THE BULLDOGS: UMD hosted Winona State University in its only match of the weekend. Despite out shooting the Warriors 22-2 in the game, the score was locked at 0-0 until the 81st minute when senior midfielder Nicole Fietz found the back of the net to put UMD up 1-0. That was all the Bulldogs would need as Mira Muikku posted her second consecutive shutout.

BULLDOG BITS: Senior midfielder Nicole Fietz is leading the charge for the Bulldogs with six goals and two assists. The three-time NSIC first-team player and 2003 NSIC Preseason Player of the Year looks to top her totals for last season (10g, 10a) ... Goaltender Mira Muikku is 3-3-1 aftet recording her second consecutive shut out.