Independent file photo SMSU’s Erin Fisher controls the ball during their game against the University of Minnesota Crookston last Friday. The Mustangs will face MSU Mankato this Friday.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State women’s soccer team (6-2, 4-2 NSIC) prepares for a tough road series at Minnesota State (7-2, 4-2 NSIC) on Friday at 3 p.m. in Mankato and Concordia-St. Paul (4-0-2, 7-0-2 NSIC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Seafoam Stadium in St. Paul.

•SMSU is currently tied at third in the conference with Minnesota State as they both hold a 4-2 record in the NSIC with 12 points. CSP sits in second with a 4-0-2 record in the NSIC and 12 points. Tied for first is Augustana and Bemidji State, who are both 5-0-1 and tally 16 points.

SMSU notes

•The Mustangs went 1-1 in a weekend homestead with a 4-0 victory over Minnesota Crookston on Friday and a 3-1 loss to Bemidji State, snapping a four-game winning streak.

•Friday’s victory was the fourth shutout for the Mustangs this season.

•In the 2019 season, SMSU has the most conference wins since the 2013 season.

•Alex Lotts surpassed Erin Fisher as the teams’ leading scorer as she recorded two goals this weekend. Fisher, Alli Miskowiec, and Abbey Hoisington trail right behind with three each.

Minnesota State game preview

Game Time: Friday at 3 p.m.

Head coach: Brian Bahl, seventh season

2019 Record: 7-2, 4-2 NSIC

Series History

•MSU has a 18-1-1 advantage over SMSU in the all-time series dating back to 1996.

•SMSU has fallen in the past five consecutive games as SMSU’s lone victory was a 2-1 notch in the NCAA tournament on Nov. 17, 2013.

Minnesota State notes

•Head coach Brian Bahl is in his seventh season with a 116-16-11 record and 84-7-5 in conference play.

•Brynn Desens leads the Mavericks in scoring with six goals on the season. Jenny Vetter adds five while Dakota Wendell has three goals and leads in shots with 48, 22 of them on goal.

•Alexa Rabune leads the MSU goalkeepers with a 6-1 record and 31 saves.

•The 2018 Maverick squad are the reigning NSIC tournament champs and have returned to the NCAA tournament all seasons under Bahl.

•MSU and SMSU are tied for third place, both teams are 4-2 in the NSIC and have 12 points.

Concordia-St. Paul game preview

Game Time: Sunday at 1 p.m.

Head coach: Steve Bellis, ninth season

2019 Record: 7-0-2, 4-0-2 NSIC

Series History

•SMSU holds a one-game lead over CSP in the all-time series with a 11-10-1 record.

•SMSU has lost the past three games with the last a 3-0 shutout on Oct. 7, 2018, in Marshall.

•SMSU opened the series with a seven-game winning streak. The last winning streak for the Mustangs was a three-game street from 2013 to 2015.

Concordia-St. Paul notes

•Head coach Steve Bellis is in this ninth season with a 65-72-14 overall record and 52-58-14 in conference play.

•Leah Johnson and Nikki Anderson tie for the lead in goals with four each. Johnson leads in shots with 23, 12 of them on goal.

•Jordyn Clark is the primary goalkeeper for CSP with a 7-2 record. Clark has 35 saves off 89 shots faced.

•CSP ranks second in the NSIC with 12 conference points. CSP trails Bemidji State and Augustana who are tied for first with 16 points.

Between the posts

•SMSU’s true freshman Amanda Haimes holds a 6-2 record this season with four shutout victories. Haimes has 29 saves on the season, with a season-high six saves in the 2-1 victory over MSU Moorhead.

Mustang scorers

•Alex Lotts surpassed all scorers to take the lead with four goals.

•Abbey Hoisington, Alli Miskowiec, and Erin Fisher each have three.

•Olivia Harriger and Jessica Jugovich both have contributed one as well.

Mustang leaders

•Mustangs are led in scoring by Alex Lotts with four goals off 13 shots, seven of them on goal.

•Alli Miskowiec leads the team in shots with 24, 15 of them on goal, followed by Abbey Hoisington with 20 shots, 10 of them on goal. Hoisington and Miskowiec both account for three goals, along with Erin Fisher.

•Miskowiec also leads in assists with five as she had three over the weekend.

Conference victories

•With the 4-0 victory over Minnesota Crookston, the Mustangs successfully earned their first four-game conference winning streak since the 2013 season.

Up next

•SMSU returns to the road to face UMary on Friday, Oct. 18, at 7 p.m. in Bismarck, N.D., and Minot State on Sunday, Oct. 19, at 12 p.m.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications