MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead soccer hits the road for the final time in 2023 this weekend as the Dragons will match up with Augustana and Southwest Minnesota State. MSUM will take on the Vikings at 4 p.m. on Friday before playing the Mustangs at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Live stats and video will be available on msumdragons.com.

The Dragons enter the weekend with a heap of momentum after defeating 10th-ranked Minnesota State on Senior Day last Sunday. MSUM scored a pair of goals in the final 45 minutes and would hold off the Maverick offense just enough to gain the upset victory. Tabea Czech scored the equalizing goal on an assist from Brooklyn Broderick while Czech would assist on the game-winning goal scored by Madeline Etter. Simone Lewald would turn in an incredible performance for the Dragons in the win, saving eight shots and facing 26 total chances. Minnesota State had six corner kick chances, all of which were stifled by Lewald and the Dragon defense. For her efforts between the pipes, Lewald was named the NSIC's Goalkeeper of the Week. 

Lewald leads the Dragons with 89 total saves, which is second overall in the Northern Sun this season. Her .864 save percentage is also second-best in the conference in 2023 as the senior has faced a total of 236 shots this season. Both Czech and Etter lead MSUM with two goals each as Etter's scores are the first of her Dragon career. The free kick specialist Czech also leads MSUM with three assists in 2023 while senior Ava Kieser has assisted on two goals, as has Brooklyn Broderick. The junior Broderick leads MSUM with 26 total shots (13 on goal) in 2023 and has come dangerously close to her first goal of the season on multiple ocassions. Junior defender Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen is closing in on Ironwoman status, having played every minute of every match for the Dragons in 2023 (1,350 minutes).

Christie Kopietz leads the Dragons in her eighth season at the helm.

Scouting Augustana

The Vikings (8-4-3, 6-3-2 NSIC) have positioned themselves near the top of the NSIC standings in 2023 as the season nears a conclusion. Augie was able to tie Bemidji State last weekend before defeating Minnesota Crookston on Sunday. Augustana is led by senior midfielder Hope Korte, who has scored six goals this season for the Vikings and assisted on a team-best three goals. Senior center midfielder Annika Bard had tacked on three goals for the Vikings while dishing out a pair of assists in 2023. Augustana is priveleged to have one of the top goalkeepers in the conference in senior Jillian Barkus. The Sioux Falls, S.D., native has started every game this season for the Vikings, making 50 saves for a .794 save percentag. Barkus also leads the Vikings in minutes, having played the full 90 in all 15 of their matches. 

Brandon Barkus is in his 18th season leading Augustana soccer. 

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State

The Mustangs (4-9-1, 4-6-1 NSIC) are coming of a weekend split which saw them fall to Minnesota Duluth on Friday before upsetting league-leading St. Cloud State on Sunday. Sophomore forward Haley Mason and junior forward Selena Prolic each lead the Mustangs with three goals in 2023. Sophomore midfielder Brooke Wetterstrom has assisted on three Southwest Minnesota State goals in 2023 to lead the team. She is just ahead of junior midfielder Alyson Gallagher, who has tossed out two assists this season. The Mustangs have opted to use multiple goalkeepers in 2023 with senior Rachel Hicks playing last Friday and junior Kenna Conley playing on Sunday. Conley leads the pair with 53 total saves and an .841 save percentage in net. As a duo, they have tallied 73 total saves and a .777 save percentage.

Clay Glasgow is in his second season as head coach of the Mustangs.