SIOUX FALLS – Beginning the season on a big home stand, University of Sioux Falls Soccer starts the 2017 season this weekend with two contests at the USF Sports Complex. The Cougars host Colorado Christian on Friday, Sept. 1 at 5 p.m. then close their opening weekend with Northwest Missouri State on Sunday, Sept. 3 at 1 p.m.
 
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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.
 
Perkins headlines improving USF defense, named defensive player to watch
Entering her third season at USF, goalkeeper Morgan Perkins anchors the Cougars defense, which has made great strides during the past two seasons. A 5-foot-7 Liberty, Mo. native, Perkins was tabbed as USF's defensive player to watch in the NSIC preseason release. Starting all 18 games last season, Perkins had a .810 save percentage and posted four shutouts, which ranked third in the league last year. She ranked in the top 10 of five different categories among NSIC goalkeepers. Perkins finished the 15-game conference season with a 1.28 goals against average, more than a one-goal improvement from 2015.
 
LaFavre returns as leading scorer, looks to spark offense as an NSIC player to watch
With two goals and three assists as a freshman, sophomore forward Lauren LaFavre's seven points are the most among returning players. The Burnsville, Minn. native played in 16 games last year and she netted the game-winner at Concordia-St. Paul, USF's first win over CSP in five years of membership in the same conference. LaFavre also assisted on the game-winning goal in the opening minutes of the Cougars' 1-0 victory over St. Cloud State. LaFavre's 21 shots are third-most among returners and she is one of six returners to have logged more than 1,000 minutes last season.
 
Back line continues to settle in, mixes experience with youth
In two years under head coach and former defensive standout Brittany Domino, USF has dropped its total goals against average from 3.33 with 61 goals allowed to 1.49 with 28 goals. In conference play, USF allowed just 20 goals, ranking them ninth in the NSIC, and their four shutouts tied them for seventh in the 16-team league. While they will be replacing a centerback from last year's starting XI, the bulk of their back line remains intact. At outside back, Lily McKown returns for her sophomore campaign after earning All-NSIC honorable mention accolades as a freshman. Emma Trittin is a three-year starter as a centerback, logging more than 3,000 minutes on the back line in her time in the purple and white. Becca Schmitz figures to move forward more in 2017, but she was starter for 18 games last season, many of which she manned the outside back position opposite McKown.
 
Newcomers will add depth to the experience the Cougars have fostered over the past two seasons and three first-time USF players should immediately fill in those gaps. Lindsey Power is locked in to a starting spot at the centerback position opposite Trittin, and the freshman can contribute offensively with services on set pieces. Transfer Kori Fink comes in with two years of experience as a defender at Nebraska Wesleyan and dynamic outside back/forward Morgan Lovato will see time as her speed poses a scoring threat from the back line. Erin O'Tool gained experience her freshman season, seeing time in 10 games and Abbie Holter joins the talented freshman class as another capable defender.
 
Leader of the pride
Entering her third season at the helm of University of Sioux Falls Soccer, Brittany Domino looks to continue the growth of her program. Despite the 5-26-4 record over two 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.