Live Stats
MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead women's soccer team is looking to reach new heights under second-year head coach Christie Kopietz. MSUM opens the regular season at 4:30 p.m. in Kearney, Neb., on Friday against Drury University.

MSUM will play two games in Nebraska. In addition to the game vs. Drury, MSUM will face Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.

Last season, the Dragons finished with a record of 3-14, with wins over Black Hills State, Southwest Minnesota State, and Minnesota Crookston.  They already have two exhibition wins under their belt this season, having defeated Jamestown and Presentation College.

The Roster
The Dragons have 14 players returning from last season, including senior goalkeepers Corina Edgington and Reagan VonBerge. Other returning players include senior defender Jenai Denardo, junior defender Kendall Schauer, junior midfielder Jessica Dallman, junior forward Annika Greaney, junior midfielder Hannah Loos, junior defender Kylee Billings and junior defender Marissa Wong.

MSUM has five sophomores on the roster, including forward Lindsey Brownell, forward Rachel Jenson, midfielder Maren Soupir, midfielder Marie Griffith and goalkeeper Kennedy Rodgers.  Griffith, Billings and Jasmine Lhotka all redshirted last season.

In addition to their returning players, the Dragons have added nine freshmen to the team, including Carly Jo Gamrath, Jensen Odegaard, Avery Wood, Hannah Spielmann, Samm Dalsin, Cameryn Brill, Jennifer Wickman, Lauren Philllips, and Jasmyn Nash.

"The team sets season goals together as a group so that they have ownership in what we are working towards." Kopietz said. "I truly believe in taking it one game at a time and having consistent expectations of ourselves each time we lift, practice or play in a game.  I would sum up my overall goal for this year with the word progress. I can push them further tactically, physically and mentally because it's not all brand new for them. We will always be a team that values work ethic, fitness and discipline, when we uphold those values day in and day out we give each other the opportunity to be successful."   

Second year: Better than the first?
Head coach Christie Kopietz is entering her second year at the helm of the Dragons, having been a four-year player at Minnesota Crookston, where she set the program's career record in goals (25) and points scored (62). She then worked at St. Cloud State for two years before moving to Northern Illinois University an assistant.

She is joined on the staff this year by Michelle Martinez, Katelyn Tallas, and Nicole Lograsso.

Captain's Corner
Team captains for 2017 include senior goalkeeper Reagan VonBerge, senior defender Jenai DeNardo, junior defender Kendall Schauer and sophomore defender Maren Soupir.

Scouting the Opponents
About Drury
Drury finished 4-10-3 overall and 2-10-3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference last season. The Panthers return 16 players from last year's team. Their leading scorer, Senior Kerri Morris, returns after scoring four goals and adding two assists. Senior Tina Haberberger is 19-15-9 as a goalkeeper for Drury. Alf Bilbao is in his 12th season as Drury's head coach.

About Nebraska-Kearney
Nebraska-Kearney finished with a 7-8-3 record a year ago. The Lopers were picked to finish ninth in the MIAA preseason poll. They return nine states from last season, including All-MIAA selections Carly Brown, Kelsie Lenn, Marika Van Brocklin, Tori Weber and Allie Prososki. Chloe Roberts is in her first season as UNK's head coach.

Look at the schedule
They will start the regular season on Sept. 1, when they take on Drury University in the Nebraska-Kearney Tournament, before taking on the host team on Sept. 3. After that, they will begin NSIC play with three consecutive road games before their first home game on Sept. 22 against Minnesota Duluth.

After the Duluth game, the Dragons will travel to St. Cloud State to face the Huskies before returning home for three straight home games, including October 1 when they host Augustana on Parents Day. They will wrap up their home schedule on October 27 when they host the University of Mary on Senior Day. The regular season will end a few days later with a trip to Minot State.

In total, they will play seven home games, and nine road games, with two of them being games in the Kearney Tournament.