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All notes courtesy of SMSU athletics communications.
THIS WEEK
The Southwest Minnesota State University women’s soccer team (1-4-2, 1-2-1 NSIC) continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on the road this weekend.
The Mustangs travel to St. Cloud, Minn., to face St. Cloud State on Friday, Sept. 25, at 5 p.m., before traveling to Mankato, Minn., to take on Minnesota State on Sunday, Sept. 27, at 1 p.m.
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS
The Mustangs went 1-0-1 on the road last weekend, playing Minnesota Crookston to a scoreless draw on Friday before defeating MSU Moorhead 2-0 on Sunday.
Freshman goalkeeper
Madelyn Cory
recorded her second straight shutout in Sunday’s victory over MSU Moorhead, making five saves.
Junior forward
Jada Backes
provided the offense for the Mustangs, scoring twice in the second half for her first career multi-goal game.
Sophia Wilson
assisted on both goals.
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 senior defenders Illjana Arbaugh and Abigail Schmidt have scored two of the Mustangs four goals this season.
The Mustangs veteran backline of Arbaugh, Sophia Sonnek, Janae Kayser, and Jayna Benson have started four of SMSU’s five matches, playing an average of 83 minutes per game.
Jada Backes
has provided a spark offensively in recent matches and now has two goals this season, both coming in Sunday’s 2-0 victory over MSU Moorhead. Backes also assisted Arbaugh’s goal against Upper Iowa.
Freshman goalkeeper
Madelyn Cory
has started the last two matches for the Mustangs and has recorded consecutive shutouts, making 10 saves during the two matches.
HEAD COACH CLAY GLASGOW
Clay Glasgow
is in his fifth season as head coach and has a record of 15-51-12 overall, including 14-40-8 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 -- ST. CLOUD STATE
The Mustangs will face St. Cloud State for the 32nd time in program history on Friday, with the Huskies holding a 17-10-4 advantage in the all-time series.
St. Cloud State has won the last two meetings, including a 2-0 victory over SMSU in Marshall last season.
SMSU’s last victory over the Huskies came in 2023, when the Mustangs earned a 1-0 victory in St. Cloud.
SCOUTING ST. CLOUD STATE
St. Cloud State enters the weekend with a 2-3-2 overall record and 1-2-1 mark in NSIC play.
Senior forward Linsey Trapino leads the Huskies with three goals and seven points through seven matches. Trapino earned All-NSIC Second Team honors three times and scored 12 goals with four assists for 28 points during the 2025 season.
Sophomore midfielder Laney Haviland has also made an impact offensively, leading SCSU with four goals and eight points this season. Haviland has scored two game-winning goals.
Senior goalkeeper Jaylee Strickland also returns after earning All-NSIC honors twice. She recorded 21 career shutouts entering the season, a school record, and has started five matches for the Huskies in 2026.
Maggie Sherman leads the Huskies in her first season as St. Cloud State head coach.
SERIES HISTORY -- MINNESOTA STATE
The Mustangs will face Minnesota State for the 27th time in program history on Sunday, with the Mavericks holding a 24-1-1 advantage in the all-time series.
Minnesota State has won 11 straight meetings between the teams, including a 2-0 victory over SMSU in Marshall on Oct. 3, 2025.
SMSU’s lone victory over the Mavericks came in 2013, when the Mustangs defeated Minnesota State 2-1 in Mankato during the NCAA Tournament.
SCOUTING MINNESOTA STATE
Minnesota State enters the weekend ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Division II National Poll with a 6-0-1 overall record and 3-0-1 mark in NSIC play.
The Mavericks opened the season with six consecutive victories before playing Northern State to a scoreless draw on Sept. 20.
Junior goalkeeper Lauren McAlpine has started all seven matches and has allowed just one goal while making 30 saves. She earned D2CCA First Team All-America and United Soccer Coaches Third Team All-America honors in 2025, while also being named NSIC Goalkeeper of the Year.
Senior forward Maddix Archer returns after recording four goals and four assists for 12 points last season. Archer currently has one goal and 16 shots through seven matches in 2026. MSU has scored 10 goals as a team, and 10 different goal scorers.
Head coach Brian Bahl is in his 14th season at Minnesota State.
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.
SMSU’s 13th-place selection came with 46 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 169-329-41, including 123-195-27 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.