For the third-straight week, the University of Minnesota Duluth will face a nationally-ranked team according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll., as it continues a four-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference road trip this weekend.

UMD (4-8-2, 3-6-2 NSIC) currently sits on the outside looking in at playoff positioning with two weeks remaining in the NSIC schedule, seven points back of eighth place with four games remaining (a win equaling three points) and the teams immediately ahead of them (Bemidji State University, Concordia University St. Paul and the University of Minnesota-Crookston) on the schedule. So, the Bulldogs have a chance if they can make a splash - but the road doesn't start from an easy place as UMD takes on No. 6 Minnesota State University on Friday after in Mankato, Minnesota before a Sunday afternoon match-up against Concordia-St. Paul to close the road trip.

SCOUTING THE MAVERICKS | 12-1-1, 10-0-1 NSIC
No. 6 Minnesota State has won three straight after a tie with Minot State University to snap an NSIC winning streak, including a 2-1 victory over Augustana (S.D.) University last time out on the road ... MSU leads the NSIC in scoring average at 3.57 and goals against average at 0.43 ... senior forward Korey Kronforst has 30 points on the season, including 11 goals, averaging 2.50 per game, tops in the NSIC ... junior midfielder Kiana Nickel has 22 assists on the year and is sixth in the conference in scoring ... goalkeeper Lauren Hoeppner has played the majority of minutes in-net for MSU, posting a 0.45 goals against average and a .916 save percentage, allowing juts six goals in 14 games ... head coach Brian Bahl is in his third season leading the Mavericks ... MSU owns a 16-8-4 all-time record against UMD including a 2-0 victory as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation last season on Oct. 23, 2014 ... kick-off between the Bulldogs and Mavericks is set for 1:00 p.m. Friday.

SCOUTING THE GOLDEN BEARS | 6-8-0, 5-6-0 NSIC
Concordia-St. Paul has lost three in a row leading into the weekend's action and will host St. Cloud State University on Friday night before the Bulldogs come to town ... the Golden Bears had won four straight before hitting the recent skid ... Concordia ranks sixth in the NSIC averaging 1.50 goals per game and 11th with a 1.57 goals against average ... senior midfielder Jessica Bianchi ranks 12th in the NSIC in scoring with five goals and and five assists for 15 points on the year ... senior goalkeeper Emma Gartner's 1.27 goals against average sits ninth in the conference while her .802 save percentage is tenth in the league ... UMD owns a 16-0-0 all-time record against Concordia including a 2-1 victory last season on Oct. 26, 2015 ... head coach Steve Bellis is in his fifth season leading the Golden Bears ... the Bulldogs will kick off their penultimate road stop of the season at 1:00 p.m. in St. Paul.

CORNER KICKS
UMD fell to No. 21 Minot State last Saturday afternoon but rallied for a double overtime tie against U-Mary on Sunday ... junior forward Katie Peterson netted her first collegiate goal on Sunday on a penalty kick, the second of the game between the Bulldogs and Marauders ... junior midfielder Marissa Ganske scored the first goal of her season, giving her six points on the year ... UMD's goalkeepers grabbed ten saves apiece in each of their starts, with sophomore Jordan Melby taking a tough-luck loss on Saturday and freshman Sisley Ng keeping the Bulldogs alive throughout their 2-2 double overtime tie.

LINKS TO WATCH
... vs. No. 6 Minnesota State Mankato: Live Stats | Live Video
... vs. Concordia-St. Paul: Live Stats | Live Video

UMD and MSU will get the action started Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Mankato.