SIOUX FALLS – Looking to shake off their first two losses of the conference season, University of Sioux Falls Soccer heads to the road for two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games. The Cougars (3-4-1, 2-2-1 NSIC) will square off with last season's league champion Minot State (3-4-1, 2-3-0 NSIC) on Saturday, Sept. 30 at 12 p.m. Rounding out the weekend road trip, USF faces University of Mary (4-2-1, 2-2-1 NSIC) on Sunday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.
 
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USF offense stagnates, Cougars drop first games of NSIC season
Pitted against league favorite and 14th-ranked Minnesota State, USF suffered their first loss of the NSIC season with a 3-0 defeat on Friday afternoon. The Cougars were limited to four total shots, led by Lindsey Power's two shots with one on frame. USF hoped to bounce back on Sunday when they hosted Concordia-St. Paul, but they offense couldn't break out of its funk and the Cougars dropped a 1-0 decision to the Golden Bears. Claire Radatz and McKayla Philippi recorded USF's shots on goal and a bouncing rebound led to CSP's winning tally. Philippi received a cross from Lily McKown and her diving header was tipped away by the Concordia-St. Paul goalkeeper. USF keeper Morgan Perkins posted 17 saves on the week and freshman keeper DeLynne Zevenbergen earned her first minutes in goal and saved the only shot she faced against Minnesota State.
 
Series Histories
                Minot State leads series 5-0-0
Searching for their first win in the series, USF will face Minot State for the sixth time since both universities joined NCAA Division II full time and the NSIC in 2012. The Cougars are 0-2 on the road entering this weekend's game. Last season, Minot State earned a 2-0 victory, despite seven saves from USF keeper Morgan Perkins. USF has suffered a 2-0 defeat in the past two matchups with Minot State.
 
                University of Mary leads series 3-1-1
In the last two games against University of Mary the Cougars have earned four points with a thrilling overtime victory and a 2-2 draw last year. Despite the recent success against U-Mary, USF still trails the Marauders 1-3-1 in the series, which began when USF joined the NCAA Division II ranks and the NSIC in 2012. USF's first win over U-Mary came on Alexa D'Acunto's double-overtime game-winning goal. Alexandria Scott scored on a penalty to tie the game at 2-2. Last year, Chessa Novotny recorded the first goal for USF and D'Acunto tied the game in the final minute to force overtime and ultimately give USF a 2-2 draw.
 
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 8-30-5 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.