SIOUX FALLS – Entering the final two weekends of the regular season, University of Sioux Falls Soccer will host two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games this weekend. The Cougars (4-7-3, 3-5-3 NSIC) first welcome No. 21 Bemidji State (11-0-2, 9-0-2) to the USF Sports Complex for an 11 a.m. game on Saturday, Oct. 21. Wrapping up the penultimate weekend of the regular season, USF hosts Minnesota Crookston (0-11-2, 0-9-2 NSIC) on Sunday. Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.
 
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LaFavre's late tally leads USF Soccer to road draw
After suffering their second straight 1-0 loss, the Cougars were less than 10 minutes away from a third one-goal loss. Minnesota Duluth held a 1-0 advantage before Lindsey Power and Lauren LaFavre connected as LaFavre netted her fifth goal of the season in the 82nd minute. The Cougars were out-shot 25-12 in the game, but had three chances in the second overtime period that just missed the goal and USF walked away with a 1-1 tie. Morgan Perkins made seven saves against UMD and added eight more against St. Cloud State the day before.
 
USF in 10th on NSIC table, remain in NSIC Tournament hunt with program-best 12 league points
After earning a point with their 1-1 draw at Minnesota Duluth, USF dropped to 10th in the NSIC standings, but remain in range of finishing in the top eight. With three wins and three ties in conference, USF's 12 points (three points for a win, one for a tie) is the most they've recorded since joining the NSIC in 2012 – 2016 total of 11 (three wins and two ties) was the previous high. The Cougars have a two-point lead on three teams: Northern State, Upper Iowa and Wayne State. Within striking distance are St. Cloud State (15 points) and Minnesota Duluth (17), who holds the final spot in the eight-team tournament. Remaining on USF's schedule are two top teams in Bemidji State (29) and Augustana (26), as well as two teams below the Cougars in the standings in Minnesota Crookston (2) and Wayne State (10).
 
Series Histories
                Bemidji State – BSU leads series 5-0-0
After a one-goal loss last season, Sioux Falls is looking to earn their first result against Bemidji State, who own a 5-0 record against the Cougars. Trimming the scoring margin from six to one, the Cougars dropped a 1-0 decision last year at Bemidji State, falling from a 72nd goal despite 13 saves by Morgan Perkins. It was one of two one-goal defeats in the five-game series against BSU, including a 2-1 loss in the first ever meeting between the programs in 2012. At home, USF is 0-2 against the Beavers, dropping the 2-1 decision in 2012 and a 6-0 loss in 2013.
 
                Minnesota Crookston – UMC leads 3-1-1
USF looks to earn a result for the second straight season against Minnesota Crookston, who own a 3-1-1 record against the Cougars. Last year, USF earned a point with a scoreless draw at Minnesota Crookston. Morgan Perkins preserved her clean sheet with six saves while Alexandria Scott had a pair of shots on goal, but the Cougars couldn't score against UMC. USF's lone win in the series was 1-0 road victory in 2013 when Ciara Howerton scored the game-winner just before halftime. At home, the Cougars are 0-2, dropping a 3-2 decision in the inaugural meeting in 2012, then a 3-1 decision in 2014.  
 
Perkins NSIC leader in saves, top 10 in Division II active leaders
With 15 saves over the weekend, junior goalkeeper Morgan Perkins recorded her 100th save this season, which leads the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference goalkeepers. A starter for all 14 games this year, Perkins is averaging 7.14 saves per game, third most in the NSIC, and a .848 save percentage in league games, which is the ninth-best mark in conference play. Perkins's 345 career saves rank 10th among active Division II players and is ninth with a 7.04 saves per game average among all active NCAA Division II goalkeepers with a minimum of 200 career saves.
 
USF picked 13th in NSIC preseason poll
Coming off a year in which the Cougars recorded the most wins and points since their move to NCAA Division II, USF Soccer was picked to finish a program-best 13th in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll. The Cougars finished 14th in the final 2016 standings with a 3-10-2 record in NSIC play. Of the Cougars' 10 conference losses last season, eight were by a one-goal difference. The conference coaches took notice of USF Soccer's improvement under third-year head coach Brittany Domino and USF was slated 13th in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll, the highest in the poll since they joined the league in 2012. The Cougars collected 51 points in the poll while Minnesota State was the favorite with 11 first-place votes and USF's crosstown rival Augustana picked up the remaining five first-place nods to help them to second place.
 
Leader of the pride
In her third season at the helm of University of Sioux Falls Soccer, Brittany Domino looks to continue the growth of her program. Despite the 9-33-7 record in three seasons, Domino has turned the Cougars around with eight one-goal losses in 2016 and cutting her team's goals allowed by more than 30 in two years. A four-year starter for University of Nebraska, Domino is assisted by Kyle Halfpop and Gabe Wortman.