SIOUX FALLS- The University of Sioux Falls soccer squad, under the direction of Head Coach Brittany Domino, will take the pitch at the USF Sports Complex when Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston come to Sioux Falls on Friday and Sunday, respectively, in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC) action.
The Rundown (2019 Record):
Fri., Oct. 4, 2 p.m. vs. Bemidji State Beavers (4-2-1, 3-0-1 NSIC)
Sun., Oct. 6, 1 p.m. vs. Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (0-5-0, 0-4-0 NSIC)
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Bemidji State Beavers (4-2-1, 3-0-1 NSIC):
The Beavers, under the direction of 18th year head coach Jim Stone, hold an overall record of 4-2-1 and 3-0-1 in NSIC matches. Offensively, sophomore Sara Wendt leads the team with three goals on 14 shots (seven shots on goal). Just behind Wendt is senior Melanie Peltier with two goals on 15 shots (six shots on goal). Both Wendt and Peltier have recorded an assist.
In the net, junior Emma Riedi and freshman Alyssa Stumbaugh have split time nearly equally, with Riedi allowing only one of the six goals against the Beavers this season.
The Beavers started the season with a non-conference match with Winona State in Makato, Minn., which the Beavers took 2-1. The Beavers remained in Mankato to face the No. 4 Grand Valley State Lakers and No. 8 Central Missouri Jennies. The Beavers dropped both the matches in a tight battle, with the Lakers winning 2-0 and the Jennies 1-0.
To start NSIC play, the Beavers competed to a 0-0 tie with St. Cloud State in St. Cloud, Minn. The Beavers followed this back-to-back 2-1 victories over Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, Minn., and Upper Iowa in Bemidji, Minn. Thee Beavers got their second win on the season over Winona State, this time a 1-0 victory in Bemidji.
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles (0-5-0, 0-4-0 NSIC):
Coach Domino will have a coaches' dual against former USF assistant coach Kyle Halfpop who left in July to take the head coach position at Minnesota Crookston. Junior Maggie Peterson has gotten the only goal for the Golden Eagles at the time of this release. Freshman Samantha Donnay recorded the assist on Peterson's goal against Winona State.
The Golden Eagles' Canadian junior goalkeeper Athena DiMario Done has played all 427 minutes in the net, allowing all 14 goals against the Golden Eagles. DiMario Done has recorded 45 saves on the season for a .763 save percentage.
The Golden Eagles had their scheduled season-opener against NAIA and former GPAC-foe Dakota Wesleyan canceled due to flooded highways near Mitchell making the Tigers' travel to Crookston unsafe.
In their true season-opener and home-opener against Michigan Tech, the Huskies were able to score a goal in the 11th minute to take the lead and added an insurance goal in the 86th minute to seal the 2-0 victory over the Golden Eagles.
In their worst loss of the season, the Golden Eagles fell behind early in the first half as the Bulldogs scored in the 11th and 12th minute, less than a minute apart. The Bulldogs added to their lead with a goal in the 67th minute and again in the 88th minute. UMD outshot UMC 32-to-1.
The Golden Eagles were able to keep their road match against St. Cloud State scoreless at halftime, despite the Huskies outshooting the Golden Eagles 17-to-1. The Huskies were able to change that 24 second into the second half, taking a 1-0 lead in the 46th minute. The Huskies added another goal 55th minute to ride off with the 2-0 win.
Against Winona State, the Golden Eagles again were faced with an early deficit after the Warriors scored an 18th minute goal. The Golden Eagles were able to respond with a 24th minute equalizer. The Warriors came out to play in the second half, breaking the 1-1 tie in the 68th minute and adding insurance in the last second of the 89th minute.
Upper Iowa would take a 1-0 road lead in the closing minutes of the first half against the Golden Eagles. The Peacocks continued their momentum in the second half, scoring another goal in the 48th minute, then added another goal in the 85th minute.
Before facing the Cougars at the Sports Complex, the Golden Eagles will travel to Marshall, Minn., to face Southwest Minnesota State on Friday.
Sioux Falls Cougars (1-5-1, 1-2-1 NSIC):
The Cougars had a successful weekend, getting their first win of the season against the MSU Moorhead Dragons in Moorhead, Minn., beating the Dragons 1-0. In that match, freshman Alexis Naujokaitis, who was a substitution for sophomore Catie Caruso in the 16th minute, made an immediate impact in the game, as after a corner kick, Naujokaitis took a shot that forced the goalkeeper to make a diving save. The goalkeeper was unable to handle the ball, giving Naujokaitis a second chance, which she took when she booted a right footed shot into the top right side of the goal to put the Cougars ahead 1-0, which proved to be the difference maker in the match.
Another key match the Cougars had was against in-city rival Augustana on Sun., Sept. 22 at the Sports Complex. In that match, the Cougars and Vikings fought tooth-and-nail, despite the Vikings outshooting the Cougars 21-to-5 in the match. The Cougars were able to fight with the Vikings, who were a National Central Region participant a year ago, to a 0-0 tie.
Leading the Cougars offense are the freshmen duo of Jaycie Dillenburg and Naujokaitis, who have scored a goal a piece.
In the net, all three Cougars goalkeepers have seen time, but as of recent, freshman Alexis Wemhoff has taken the majority of the workload, playing in 396 minutes. In five matches Wemhoff has only allowed three goals and has compiled 29 saves. Wemhoff also recorded a clean sheet in the Cougars' victory over the Dragons.
