The University of Minnesota Duluth soccer team will split its weekend home and away in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend, starting with a visit from Minnesota State University, Moorhead on Friday to James S. Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minn. at 6:00 p.m. The Bulldogs will then head northwest to the University of Minnesota Crookston Sunday to battle the Golden Eagles on the Minnesota Crookston Soccer Field in Crookston, Minn. at 1:00 p.m.
KICKS FOR CAUSES CONTINUES: Friday night, Elaina Shromoff will present her Kicks Cause. The senior midfield has chosen Animal Allies Humane Society, a long-established pillar of the Animal Welfare Community. Animal Allies offers pet adoptions, supplies for pets, humane education activities for kids, and volunteer opportunities to help the animals. For more information on Animal Allies, click here.
WEEKEND PREVIEW:
vs. Minnesota State Moorhead: UMD owns a 24-3-2 record against the Dragons throughout program history and are currently unbeaten in their last 13 games with a 11-0-2 record. MSUM have not beaten the Bulldogs since 2012.
UMD defeated the Dragons last season 2-1 on Oct. 20, 2024 in Malosky Stadium. Both the Bulldogs goals were scored by Anna Tobias, whose goal in the 47 minute was followed by a MSUM goal in the 48th minute. But Tobias put the Bulldogs ahead for good at 65:41. The Bulldogs had a 8-0 corner kicks advantage in the game and outshot the Dragons 7-4 on goal.
Currently, MSUM is just 3-7-1 this season and only 2-6 in NSIC play. Averaging less than a goal a game, the Dragons are allowing an average of 2.73 an outing. Three players have scored two goals this season, including Lilly Johnson, who leads MSUM with five points on two goals and an assist.
vs. Crookston: UMD enters Sunday on an eight-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles. All time, the Bulldogs are 19-1-1 against UMC.
Last season, the Bulldogs escaped UMC with a 1-0 win on a goal from Jessica Eischens in the 21st minute. UMD outshot the Golden Eagles 14-11 and 11-6 on goal. The Bulldogs also had a 4-2 advantage on corner kicks.
The Golden Eagles are 1-8-2 so far this season and still looking for their first win in conference play with a record of 0-7-1. Two players have two goals – Sarah Burgum and Brooklyn Fischbach. Crookston is averaging 0.22 goals a game while allowing 2.39.
LAST TIME OUT: The Bulldogs (3-5-3, 2-4-2) suffered two setbacks last weekend on the road with a 3-0 loss to No. 2 Minnesota State University, Mankato Friday afternoon in Mankato, Minn. before falling 2-1 to St. Cloud State University Sunday in St. Cloud, Minn. Kati Beavers had the lone goal for the Bulldogs on the weekend against the Huskies.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING: UMD is averaging just over a goal a game (1.27) so far this season while allowing 1.64. The Bulldogs 14 goals so far this season ranks them 10th in the NSIC – they sit third in the conference with 67 corners for a 6.09 a game average.
Sophomore Kati Beavers leads the Bulldogs with nine points (four goals, one assist), while Elaina Shromoff is tied with Beavers with a team-high four goals. Gwendolyn Lilly has played a field player high of 873 minutes so far, trailing only goaltender Kaycee Chavez's 900.
