MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The MSU Moorhead soccer squad looks to make life tough on the formidable Mavericks from Minnesota State University Mankato this weekend. The match will kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday and will take place at Nemzek soccer complex in Moorhead, Minn. 

Live stats and video are available at msumdragons.com. MSUM's 10 seniors will also be honored prior to the match as a part of Senior Day for the Dragons.
 
About the Dragons

The Dragons (2-8-4, 1-5-4 NSIC), dropped both of their games last weekend at home. The first against University of Minnesota Duluth 2-1. The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead into the half, but the Dragons would fight back in the second half and tie it up with a goal on a Grace Heying header in the 53^rd minute. The Bulldogs would take the lead again 11 minutes later and didn't relinquish the lead for the rest of the match. The Dragons ended the match with 12 shots, nine of which were on goal. Junior forward Brooklyn Broderick led the Dragons in the shots on goal category with three, however, none of them would find their way past the keeper. Broderick would play 68 minutes in the match. Sophomore forward Blayke Hurley played a big role for the Dragons, tallying two shots on goal and playing 76 minutes. Senior defender Mason Kimble played all 90 minutes for her squad, she added a shot on goal as well as her work on defense. Senior goalkeeper Simone Lewald made nine saves in the contest. 

In the second match of the weekend the Dragons were pitted up against a very fast and precise St. Cloud State Huskies team, and the Dragons weren't able to match them and fell 2-0. The Huskies scored one goal in each of the halves, all while having very stout defense. The Dragons had 10 shots in the match, with two being on goal. The Huskies managed to earn eight corner kicks to MSUM's one. Sophomore forward Lilly Johnson had three shots and one shot on goal in the match in her 32 minutes played. Sophomore defender Abbey Johnson had her career-high in minutes played with 40 and she also tallied a shot in the match. Senior midfielder Ava Kieser played all 90 minutes of the match, so did junior defender Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen. Senior midfielder Madeline Etter had a shot and played 68 minutes. Senior forward Tabea Czech played a good game and tallied a shot and played significant minutes with 72. Lewald made seven saves in this match.

Team leaders this season in stats categories are:
Goals: Nine players tied with one goal
Assists: Tabea Czech – 2, Ava Kieser – 2
Shots (on goal): Brooklyn Broderick – 25 (13), Jensen Seidel – 14 (9)
Minutes Played: Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen – 1260, Ava Kieser – 1102
Saves: Simone Lewald – 81
 
The Dragons are coached by Christie Kopietz.
 
Scouting Minnesota State University Mankato

The tenth-ranked Mavericks (9-1-4, 7-0-3 NSIC), are one of the best D-II teams in the country this year. They remain unbeaten in conference play this year, and they have held each of their last six opponents scoreless. Their leading goal scorer is sophomore forward Avery Korsching, who has scored six of the Maverick's 22 goals this year. Their defensive line is especially stout, only allowing two goals all season. Senior defender Libby Spangler leads her squad in minutes played and is an integral part of what the Mavericks do on defense. Last week, Spangler earned her third NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honor of the season. Senior goalkeeper Mackenzie Rath also earned NSIC Player of the Week honors, after making five saves in their last matchup against Wayne State. These five saves helped propel them to a 1-0 victory over the Wildcats last weekend.

In their match against the Wildcats, senior midfielder Allie Williams scored the go-ahead goal in the 14^th minute, and the Mavericks never looked back. The Mavericks took 23 shots on the day, only four of them ending up on goal. Sophomore forward Anna Van Wyngarden took five shots and played 71 minutes. They had six corner kicks compared to their opponent's three, and if the Dragons want to have a chance to score against the Mavericks, this is a category they will need to be great in. Finding opportunities to get the ball into the box with corner kicks and free kicks will be key.

The Mavericks are coached by Brian Bahl.