The University of Minnesota Duluth embarks on its longest road trip of 2013 this weekend, first traveling to Minot State University on Saturday before taking on the University of Mary on Sunday afternoon.
UMD moved up one spot to seventh in the Central region of NCAA II in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll after earning a pair of home victories last weekend. The Bulldogs dominated 5-0 against Wayne State (Neb.) College last Friday night before making a Homecoming sweep with a 3-2 overtime victory over Augustana on Sunday afternoon.
The squad will hit the road this weekend for the start of a four-game trip through the NSIC, beginning with the long ride through North Dakota.
The Opponents
Minot State (2-5-2, 2-4-1 NSIC) enters the weekend off a victory last time out over Concordia-St. Paul which snapped a three-match losing streak. Head coach Jason Spain is in his fourth season at the helm of the Beavers who made an NCAA II playoff appearance in 2012. the Beavers have scored just six goals in nine matches but have held opponents to one goal or fewer six times. Freshman Chloe Melton and sophomore Kayla Schlittenhart have accounted for three goals each for Minot. Sophomore Gemma Biasetto has started every match between the pipes for the Beavers, posting a 1.35 GAA with 58 saves and one shutout in 2013.
Minot State picked up the win in their initial meeting with UMD, a 1-0 victory on Oct. 7, 2012.
The University of Mary (2-7-1, 2-4-1 NSIC) enters the weekend having lost four of its last five matches. Head coach Sarah McNulty is in her second season at the helm of her alma mater. The Marauders have been out-shot by nearly double, 174-93, so far in 2013. Senior forward Alex Bachman-Williams leads the way with three of her team's seven goals so far this season. Goalkeeper Shelby Buttron started in-net in nine of Mary's ten matches, posting a 1.72 GAA and 54 saves. She has also earned two shutouts in 2013.
UMD is 6-3-1 all-time against Mary, defeating the Marauders 2-0 in their last meeting on Oct. 6, 2012.
The Line-Up
Junior forward
Maureen Stormont continued to lead the Bulldogs offensively, scoring both the game-tying and game-winning goals in UMD's overtime victory over Augustana last time out. After the match, she credited her teammate,
Jennifer Smith (Jr./M) who set her up with the assist. Smith entered last weekend without a point and racked up a goal and four assists in the Bulldogs' two Homecoming matches. Freshman
Kailey Beatt also earned her first points of 2013, scoring her first collegiate goal. Sophomore goalkeeper
Marissa Rosa earned her second shutout of the season on Friday night and kept her team in the game, turning away six shots, on Sunday.
UMD will be in Minot on Saturday afternoon to take on Minot State followed by a Sunday afternoon clash with U-Mary. Both matches are set to kick off at 1:00 p.m.
