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All notes courtesy of SMSU athletics communications.
THIS WEEK
The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s soccer team (0-2-1, 0-0 NSIC) opens Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play this weekend, hosting a pair of matches at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.
The Mustangs host Minnesota Duluth on Friday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m., before welcoming Bemidji State to Marshall on Sunday, Sept. 13, at 1 p.m.
Friday’s match against Minnesota Duluth will be part of SMSU’s 9/11 Recognition and Faculty & Staff Appreciation event, while Sunday’s match against Bemidji State is Youth Soccer Day and the SAAC Game of the Year. Both matches will be streamed live on Midco Sports Plus.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
After an exhibition against Dakota State on Friday, the Mustangs fell to No. 10 Central Missouri 5-0 on Sunday in Mankato.
Central Missouri controlled possession throughout the match and held a 30-0 advantage in shots, including 14 shots on goal. Sophomore goalkeeper Kennady Krebs made nine saves for SMSU before the match was finalized in the 76th minute due to lightning in the area.
2026 OUTLOOK
SMSU head coach Clay Glasgow, entering his fifth season, returns 13 letter winners from 2025 and features seven seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and five freshmen.
SMSU will rely on the defensive veteran leadership of seniors Illjana Arbaugh and Sophia Sonnek to help steady the ship at the back. Arbaugh and Sonnek both played in 15 games last season, providing a combined three assists.
Junior forward Jada Backes will take a more central role in the Mustangs’ attack this season after appearing in 16 games last season and scoring once against Minnesota State Moorhead.
Sophomore goalkeeper Kennady Krebs returns after starting in net 15 times in 2025, making 93 saves. Krebs has started all three matches for SMSU in 2026 and made nine saves against Central Missouri.
HEAD COACH CLAY GLASGOW
Clay Glasgow is in his fifth season as head coach and has a record of 14-50-12 overall, including 13-40-8 in NSIC play. He was hired as the sixth head coach in program history on Feb. 25, 2022.
Glasgow came to SMSU after spending eight seasons (2014-21) as head women’s soccer coach at Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.), recording a mark of 49-86-5.
During his last two seasons at DWU, the Tigers amassed back-to-back winning seasons and qualified for the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament both seasons.
SERIES HISTORY -- MINNESOTA DULUTH
The Mustangs will face Minnesota Duluth for the 35th time in program history on Friday.
UMD leads the all-time series 26-7-1 which dates to 1996. SMSU has enjoyed success in recent meetings, however, winning two of the last five matchups and posting a 2-0 victory over the Bulldogs in Marshall in 2022. The teams played to a 1-1 draw in Marshall in 2024.
The Bulldogs won the most recent meeting, earning a 2-0 victory in Duluth on Sept. 21, 2025.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA DULUTH
Minnesota Duluth enters the weekend with a 1-1-1 record after opening the season with a 2-0 victory over Michigan Tech, a 2-1 loss to Northern Michigan and a 0-0 draw against St. Cloud State.
Junior forward Lauren McGough leads the Bulldogs with two goals this season. Sophomore goalkeeper Edy Halverson holds an 80% save percentage through three games.
UMD went 6-8-4 overall and 5-7-3 in NSIC play last season and was picked to finish 10th in the 2026 NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll. Senior attacker Jessica Eischens was named a NSIC Offensive Player to Watch, while junior defender Kailey Tomzak was selected as a Defensive Player to Watch.
Head coach Greg Cane is in his 32nd season at the helm of the Bulldogs and remains the only head coach in program history.
SERIES HISTORY -- BEMIDJI STATE
The Mustangs will face Bemidji State for the 31st time on Sunday.
SMSU trails the all-time series 11-14-5. The Beavers have won two straight meetings, including a 3-1 victory in Bemidji last season. SMSU and BSU played to a 1-1 draw in Marshall in 2023.
The Mustangs are 5-4-5 all-time against Bemidji State at home.
SCOUTING BEMIDJI STATE
Bemidji State enters the weekend with a 1-1-1 record.
The Beavers opened the season with a draw against Missouri Western State before defeating Northwest Missouri State 2-1 on Aug. 30. Senior defender Madeline Davey scored the game-winning goal early in the second half against the Bearcats.
BSU then dropped a 2-1 decision to No. 5 Grand Valley State on Sept. 4. Senior goalkeeper Rozlyn Buettner made a career-high nine saves in the match, while Maggie Kramer scored the Beavers’ goal and Ella Wade recorded an assist.
Head coach Jim Stone enters another season leading a program that has finished among the top three in the NSIC in five of the last six seasons.
SMSU PICKED 13TH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
SMSU was selected 13th in the 16-team NSIC Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
NSIC regular season and tournament champion Minnesota State was selected as the favorite to win the conference again, receiving 13 first-place votes and 223 points.
Concordia-St. Paul finished second with 204 points and three first-place votes, followed by Bemidji State with 193 points, Augustana with 174 points and St. Cloud State with 164 points.
Junior forward Jada Backes and senior defender Sophia Sonnek were both named Players to Watch in the preseason poll.
MUSTANG HISTORY
SMSU is in its 31st season of soccer in 2026 and 30th season of competition (2020 was canceled).
The Mustangs have compiled an all-time record of 168-327-40, including 122-193-26 in NSIC games.
SMSU has made 14 NSIC tournaments and played in the region championship of the NCAA Tournament in 2013.
SMSU has recorded four winning seasons in program history, with the last coming in 2019.