The University of Minnesota Duluth will look to make a splash in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament, beginning with a Wednesday afternoon match against Augustana University. UMD capped off a 6-4-5 NSIC regular season on Sunday with 1-1 tie against Bemidji State University on Sunday, securing the fifth seed in this year's tournament.
Wednesday will mark a return to postseason play for UMD after a one-year absence from the NSIC Tournament. The Bulldogs and Vikings squared off in the first round of the 2014 tournament, with UMD grabbing a 1-0 victory in a defensive battle. The two teams matched up this season back on Oct. 23, playing to a 1-1 double overtime draw.
UMD will look to continue to play sound on the defensive end after allowing just two goals in its previous four games. The Bulldogs have shutout their opponent seven times in the 2016 campaign, with shutouts from three goalkeepers; sophomore
Sisley Ng (4), junior
Jordan Melby (2), and sophomore
Carlye Wright (1). Ng sits in a tie for second in the NSIC for shutouts, just one shy of first place. UMD has been led offensively by junior defender
Skye Finley, who has netted five goals in addition to four assists. Senior forward
Kailey Beatt and sophomore forward
Destiny Schmitz have each racked up seven points on the season to aid the Bulldog attack.
SCOUTING THE VIKINGS
Augustana will begin the NSIC Tournament following a dramatic overtime victory over the University of Sioux Falls on Sunday. The Vikings finished the 2016 regular season with an impressive 11-4-3 (10-2-3 NSIC) record, good for a fourth place finish. UMD currently holds a 11-5-2 edge in the all-time series and is 2-0 against Augustana in postseason play. The Vikings are 4-0-2 in their previous six games and have suffered just one defeat after two losses to start the NSIC season. Senior midfielder Emily Jacobsen leads the team with 12 points (three goals, six assists), while junior goalkeeper Taylor Machacek sports a 1.09 goals against average in 16 start.
The Bulldogs and Vikings will kickoff at 3 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.
Follow the game live here.
