SIOUX FALLS- The University of Sioux Falls Soccer squad, under the direction of head coach Brittany Domino, starts their weekend with a road trip to Fayette, Iowa, on Friday to take on the Upper Iowa Peacocks, followed by a return to their home pitch on Sunday for Senior Day against Winona State.
The Rundown (2019 Record):
Fri., Nov. 1, noon at Upper Iowa Peacocks (3-8-4, 3-6-3 NSIC)
Sun., Nov. 3, 1 p.m. vs Winona State Warriors (7-8-0, 6-6-0 NSIC)
Upper Iowa Peacocks:
(Last five matches- LLTWL)
The Peacocks have strutted their feathers to a 3-8-4, 3-6-3 NSIC record on the season. The worst loss of the season for the Peacocks came in the opening weekend of conference play when Minnesota State beat the Peacocks 6-0 in Fayette. In each of their five losses after Minnesota State, the Peacocks fell by only one or two goals.
Haley Ramberg leads the team in goals (3), with Facienne Graham and Aimee Kemper right behind with two each. Graham leads the team in assists (2).
In the net, Natalie Rudrud has handled all but 14 minutes the Peacocks have played, allowing 21 goals and preventing another 110 opportunities.
Winona State Warriors:
(Last five matches- LWLWW)
The Warriors have come out to play in 2019 with a 7-8, 6-6 NSIC record on the season. Their sole win of non-conference play came in a 3-2 win against Northern Michigan in Marquette, Mich. The Warriors started their first 3-1 stretch of conference play when the beat Minnesota Crookston in Crookston. The Warriors are in the midst of a two-game winning streak heading into their home match against Southwest Minnesota State.
Leading the Warrior offense heavily is Georgette Topalis who has scored seven goals and assisted another in 2019. Courtney Wiencek has been the assist leader for the Warriors, assisting on three goals.
Yanel Ortiz has spent all 1,350 minutes in the net for the Warriors, allowing 24 goals and saving 80 more attempts.
Sioux Falls Cougars:
(Last five matches- LLLLL)
The Cougars have went 2-12-1, 2-9-1 NSIC on their 2019 campaign. USF has recorded wins against MSU Moorhead (1-0) and Minnesota Crookston (4-1). One of their most impressive matches that did not result in a win was their home match against in-city rival Augustana. The Cougars were able to battle tooth-and-nail on their home pitch with the 2018 NCAA Central Region participant, and took the heavy offensive-minded Vikings to a 0-0 tie after 110 minutes.
The Cougars are led offensively by freshman Grace Held, the scorer of two goals for the Cougars. Eight other Cougars have scored a goal on the season. Junior Olivia Valdez leads the team with two assists.
Senior Brayden Paul has handled most of the minutes as of recently, having allowed only 10 goals and recording 42 saves in 468 minutes.
Senior Day:
In their home match on Sunday against Winona State, the Cougars will honor their 2019 seniors at the conclusion of the match.
What is Left on the Schedule:
After the weekend, the Cougars will have one more match, facing travel partner SMSU in Marshall, Minn., on Fri., Nov. 8 at 5 p.m.
