The University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team will kick off its 2023 campaign with a Michigan road trip, facing off against Northern Michigan University at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 31, and Michigan Technological University at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2.
Last season, the Bulldogs also opened the season against these two teams, hosting the NMU Wildcats and MTU Huskies during UMD Campus Welcome Week.
The Bulldogs look to start the season on a high note, especially with returning leading scorers senior Jackie Jares, junior Anna Tobias, and sophomore Myra Moorjani. Jares led the team in scoring with thirteen points and was matched in goals (4) by Tobias. Moorjani received NSIC All-Conference Second Team recognition after scoring 7 points last season.
On the backline, the Bulldogs have familiar faces in seniors Rachel Boelke (D) and Jennifer Norris (GK). Boelke received NSIC All-Conference First Team recognition last season and Norris posted a 0.829 SV% in 13 games.
Northern Michigan
The Bulldogs have matched up against the Wildcats 24 times in their history, with a winning record (16-5-3). Last August, UMD fell to NMU 3-0 at home.
The Wildcats went on to win 13 games in 2022 and the team made its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2010.
NMU returns both leading goal scorers, Brook Pietila and Molly Pistorius, from last season, as well as standout defensemen Isabelle Brusilow and Gwen Kiilunen.
UMD takes on NMU on Thursday at 3 p.m. EDT/2 p.m. local time.
Watch | Live Stats
Michigan Tech
UMD most recently won against the Huskies in a 2-1 second half comeback last August. Current senior Jackie Jares scored both of UMD's goals, within the span of 10 minutes.
The Huskies posted a 7-9-3 record last season, with a first round exit in their conference tournament.
MTU brings in seven new players for this season, after losing top goal scorer and points leader Stephanie Yeager.
UMD takes on MTU on Saturday at 12 p.m. EDT/11 a.m. local time.
Watch | Live Stats
