2014 NSIC/U.S. Bank Women's Soccer Tournament Website

Postseason experience may have proved the difference as the University of Minnesota Duluth opened the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference/U.S. Bank postseason tournament with an upset victory over Augustana (S.D.) College on Wednesday, but the Bulldogs now turn their attention to the team's most storied rival, Winona State University, in the semifinals on Friday morning in Mankato, Minnesota.

UMD (9-9-1) is back to .500 for just the second time this season: After an 0-3 start to the non-conference season, the Bulldogs won three in a row to open the NSIC, and now rides a four-game undefeated streak into the weekend rounds of the NSIC tournament hosted by top seed and No. 1-ranked Minnesota State University Mankato.

QUICK HITS
• Senior goalkeeper Marissa Rosa was challenged between the pipes the first time UMD played Winona State this season, making five saves to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance as the Warriors edged UMD 1-0 in Winona on Sept. 28.
• The Bulldogs offense was quieted with just five shots in their first match-up with Winona State. NSIC Newcomer of the Year, junior forward Sheridan Reiners, led the offense with a pair, while senior defender Megan Helberg, an NSIC First Team selection,
• UMD didn't fair much better against the teams on the other side of the bracket - Minnesota State and fourth seed Upper Iowa University each shut out UMD when the teams played in 2014. Still, the Bulldogs have reason for optimism: UMD is now 5-0-1 in postseason rematches the past two seasons.
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• Winona State (14-4-1) knocked off Southwest Minnesota State University 1-0 in the opening round of the NSIC tournament (All four quarterfinal matches were decided by the same score). The Warriors edged UMD 1-0 earlier this season and own a 14-12-3 overall record against the Bulldogs all-time. UMD defeated WSU three times in 2014 - in the regular season, NSIC postseason, and NCAA II tournament.
• Junior midfielder Kati Baker netted her first goal of the season to give the Warriors the edge on Wednesday evening in Winona.
• Sophomore forward Meg Ribau struck for Winona State's goal against UMD on Sept. 28, but the Warriors have been led by defense in 2014.  Freshman goalkeeper Rachel Olesen is second in the league in goals against average (0.71) and third in save percentage (.845). WSU has nine shutouts this season and has outscored opponents 33-13.

The Bulldogs and Warriors will take the field in Mankato at 11:00 a.m. on Friday.