The Peacocks of Upper Iowa enter the weekend at 3-1-0 (1-0-0 NSIC). Coach Brian Diaz is in his first season as head coach after being named to the position in June 2013. In its last action, UIU handed conference rival Winona State their first loss of 2013 in a tight 1-0 match-up. Sophomore goalkeeper Kaitlyn Emanuel earned her first career shutout, while sophomore midfielder Madie Edwards netted the lone goal of the contest. As a team, the Peacocks have out-scored opponents 8-5 in their four matches this season. Junior Aimee Wronski has scored half of Upper Iowa's goals (four) to lead the offense; senior Amanda Millard is second with two goals.  Emanuel has posted a 1.25 GAA and 30 saves to just five goals allowed, good for an .857 save percentage. UMD is 4-1-0 all-time against the Peacocks, though their last meeting was a 2-0 victory for Upper Iowa.

Historically, the Winona State Warriors have the best winning percentage of any team in the NSIC. They've won 11 championships, the last coming in 2011. Head coach Ali Omar has been at the helm of the Warriors for each of those titles in his 18-season career at WSU. Winona State, now sitting at 1-1-2 (0-1-0 NSIC) in 2013, earned its first win of the season last time out, defeating Northwest Missouri State at home last Sunday. Sophomore Cailtin Lily netted the double-overtime game-winner for WSU, their third match requiring extra time already this season. The Warriors have netted just two goals all season, but senior goalkeeper Alexandra Vial has held opponents to just two scores as well. She has posted a 0.43 GAA with 26 saves and two shutouts through four matches. UMD is 8-12-3 all-time against Winona State, with their last match-up falling the way of the Warriors 2-0 last season.

The Line-Up
UMD opened the NSIC season with a 4-1 victory last time out, as this week's NSIC Offensive Player of the Week Dani Potter (Sr./F) netted a hat trick to lead her Bulldogs over St. Cloud State. With her four goals this season, Potter has climbed into the top ten at UMD with 22 career goals and 58 career points, each good for ninth all-time. Second on the Bulldogs in scoring this season with six points (2 G, 2 A), Maureen Stormont netted her second goal of 2013 against the Huskies and also moved up in the career rankings. Her 56 career points are just outside the top ten, but she sits at seventh all-time in goals with 23. The soccer team's first ever UMD Athletic Hall of Famer, Jen (Warrick) Reierson sits atop each listing with 125 points and 52 goals. She and the rest of the class of 2013 will be inducted this Friday.

Junior Riley Allen continues to receive praise as the leader of the Bulldogs' defense in front of sophomore goalkeeper Marissa Rosa. UMD has allowed 32 shots so far this season, with Riley and her fellow defenders  limiting opponents to just 16 on-net. Rosa has posted a 1.67 GAA so far this season with nine saves. Bulldogs defenders have also blocked two on-target shots.

The first half continues to be the strongest for UMD offensively with the Bulldogs taking 29 of their first 43 shots. They've made good on a greater percentage of shots in the second half, scoring four goals on just 14 shots (eight on net) in the latter frame. Early offense has been important to the Bulldogs, with UMD taking an early advantage and holding on late in each of their two victories this season, while falling behind NCAA I's North Dakota State in the first half of the Bulldogs' lone loss this season. Additionally, early scoring can only help the young Bulldogs gain confident; seven first-year players have seen action for UMD in 2013.

Both matches are set for a 1:00 p.m. opening kick, with the Bulldogs taking on Upper Iowa on Saturday and facing off with Winona State on Sunday. Live stats will be available for both matches by clicking here, or you can watch a live stream of the action by clicking here.