SIOUX FALLS— The University of Sioux Falls (4-8-2, 3-6-2 NSIC), which has gone 3-3-2 over the two weeks, will look to continue their resurgence as they travel to face St. Cloud State (5-5-4, 5-3-3 NSIC) on Friday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. USF will wrap up the weekend with another road game, traveling to Duluth to play Minnesota Duluth (5-8-1, 4-6-1 NSIC) on Sunday, Oct. 21 at 12 p.m.
 
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Defense leads USF against U-Mary
Over the past eight matches, USF's defense has been a major reason why they have rebounded from a slow start to the season. The Cougars have allowed just six goals during that span. On a cold and snowy Sunday afternoon, they lost to U-Mary, 1-0, but again showed solid work on the defensive end. They  held U-Mary to 16 total shots, six of which were on goal. Junior goalkeeper Brayden Paul recorded five total saves on the contest, while allowing just one goal late in the half. 
 
USF currently 11th in conference standings
With the setback to U-Mary, USF has gone 3-3-2 in their last eight matches and moved into a 11th in the NSIC, one spot behind Minnesota Duluth who is in 10th at 4-6-1. The Cougars, which set a D2 program mark with five wins a year ago, have totaled four in 14 matches this season. St. Cloud State is currently in a tie for fifth in the conference with Concordia-St.Paul with a record of 5-3-3.
 
Series Histories
                St. Cloud State – St. Cloud leads 3-2-1
St. Cloud State broke the series tie last season with a, 1-0 victory over USF. The Cougars tied the series at 2-2-1 with a 1-0 victory two seasons ago while SCSU owns the aggregate lead with an 8-4 edge in total goals scored over the previous six games. The Cougars are 1-2 on the road against the Huskies with the 2014 victory coming on the foot of Jackie Montes's 88th minute winner. Most recently the Cougars fell to the Huskies, 1-0 despite eight saves by goalkeeper Morgan Perkins and a solid team defensive performance.
 
                Minnesota Duluth – UMD leads 5-0-1
After Lauren LaFavor's late game goal which resulted in a draw for USF, the Cougars broke their losing streak against Minnesota Duluth and recorded their first point against the Bulldogs. Minnesota Duluth owns a 5-0-1 lead in the series, which began when the Cougars joined the NSIC in 2012. Through two thirds of the 2016 contest the game was scoreless, but UMD scored despite USF holding a 17-13 edge in total shots and the Cougars were handed their second 1-0 loss to the Bulldogs in a span of four years. This is the fourth matchup between the teams that will be hosted by UMD and the Bulldogs are 2-0-1 on their home turf.
 
USF Offense continues to improve
Sophomore midfielder Lindsey Power leads the offensive attack this season with three total goals, three assists, and 25 total shots. Junior forward Lauren LaFavre has been a constant force on the offensive attack this season, while continually pressuring the opposing defenses. LaFavre leads the Cougars in total shots (33) as well as shots on goal (15) through 14 games. Freshman midfielder Aundria Vargas is second on the team in goals (2), and total shots (28). Midfielder McKayla Philippi has produced two goals on her junior campaign on four shots on goal, while also accumulating two assists on the year as well.
 
USF picked 12th in preseason poll
The University of Sioux Falls Soccer Team, which is coming off its best season at NCAA DII, has been picked to finish in a tie for 12th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), according to the 2018 NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll, which was released August 9. USF soccer had a program-DII-best 5-9-4 overall mark, and was 4-7-4 in the NSIC for 10th in the league in 2017. In the preseason poll, USF received 69 points and sits tied with Wayne State for 12th in the poll. The Cougars currently sit tied for 9th in the conference standings after eight games.
 
Head Coach Brittany Domino leads USF
Brittany Domino enters her fourth season as the head coach of the USF Soccer program in 2018. She has led USF to a 3-5 record, including 2-3 in league play. For the first time in the DII era, she has directed USF to consecutive league wins (MSUM, Northern State, Sept. 14 & 16). During Domino's tenure, the Cougars have built up their defense and added offseason signings to bolster their offensive attack, which set Division II program records for goals, points, assists and nearly every statistical category. In her third season at the helm of the USF Women's Soccer program, Domino reached unprecedented territory for USF in their Division II era, finishing with a 5-9-4 overall record, 4-7-4 in the NSIC during the 2017 campaign. The Cougars finished with program-bests of five wins overall, four wins in NSIC games, and 16 total points in league play, tying them for 10th place, their highest finish in six seasons as members of the league. In 2017, Sioux Falls again improved on both sides of the ball, breaking their previous Division II USF program records in both goals scored and goals allowed. The Cougar coaching staff also includes Assistant Coach Kyle Halfpop who has been with USF for two years, and Gabe Wortman.