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MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's soccer team opens the 2014 season with a pair of nonconference home games this week. The Dragons will face Washburn at 4 p.m. on Friday and conclude the week with a game against Northwest Missouri State at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Both games will be at the MSUM Soccer Field.

The Dragons will face Washburn for a second time, with the Ichabods holding a 1-0 series lead. Northwest Missouri State and MSUM will meet for the first time ever in women's soccer.

MSUM is aiming to rebound from a winless 2013 campaign with a seasoned roster and a promising group of incoming freshmen.

The top returnee for MSUM is senior Erin Nyberg, who is a two-time All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference third team selection. Nyberg led the Dragons with nine points and four goals a year ago. Sophomore Jessica Johnson returns after leading MSUM with two assists last season. Junior Cara Zastrow is back after finishing second on the team with seven points and three goals last season. Senior Stephanie Lindo is also back after finishing with five points and two goals in 2013.  Junior Lindsey Micheletti and sophomore Gabrielle Bjorge also return after starting all 17 games last season.

Junior Ashley Leintz is back in goal after recording a team-high 71 saves last season. She had a solid 1.89 goals allowed average in seven starts.

Rollie Bulock is in his 17th season as MSUM's head coach with a record of 91-165-15 at the school.

About Washburn
The Ichabods, a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association team, was 9-9-2 a year ago and 6-4-1 in the MIAA. The team returns 15 letterwinners and five starters from that team.  The top returner is sophomore midfielder Kate Combs, who was third-team All-MIAA a year ago after recording three goals and 10 points last season. Senior goalkeeper Tori Fuglister also returns after stopping 91 shots last season. Tim Collins is in his 12th season as Washburn's head coach with a record of 90-97-31 at the school.

About Northwest Missouri State
Northwest Missouri State, also an MIAA program, is coming off of a 5-11-2 season a year ago. The team averaged 1.17 goals per game and allowed 1.94. Anna Holden is back after recording six points a year. She was tied for second on the team with three goals. Junior Crystal McElhose is also back after scoring two goals and four points last season. Sophie Malcolm is the team's most experienced goalkeeper returning after going 1-2-1 in four starts a year ago. She had 29 saves and an 2.66 goals allowed average. Tracy Hoza is in her 12th season as the Bearcats' head coach.

MSUM Captains
Senior forwards Stephanie Lindo and Erin Nyberg and junior goalkeeper Ashley Leintz will serve as MSUM's captains in 2014.