MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead soccer hosts a pair of conference matches this week against two tough teams. First, MSUM will take on the Wayne State College Wildcats on Friday at 3 p.m. Two days later the Dragons face the Sioux Falls Cougars in a match that kicks off at noon on Sunday.

Live stats and video are available at msumdragons.com.
 
About the Dragons

The Dragons (1-6-1, 1-3 NSIC), grabbed their first win on the season last week in a 1-0 victory against Winona State. In that match the offense gave the Dragons a lead in the 37^th minute when junior forward Blayke Hurley put one in the back of the net. The Dragons only had two shots on goal in the match, the other coming from junior defender Abbey Johnson, but they made it count when they got the chance. Junior goalkeeper Quinn Carter had an incredible game, making nine saves to keep the Dragons in front. Sophomore midfielder Marin Hensley and senior defender Sara Alfrida Munk Nielsen both played the full 90 minute slate for their squads. 

On the season the Dragons have taken 34 shots (4.3 per game), and 47.1 percent of their shots have been on goal. Dragon goalkeepers have made 74 total saves through the eight games this season.

The win over the Warriors was the first in the tenure of Scott Forster. 
 
Scouting Wayne State

The Wildcats (3-3-2, 2-1-1 NSIC), have been very solid to start NSIC conference play. Their only conference loss came in their most recent match to St. Cloud State when they lost 2-0. They got down early in the second minute of the match and never found a way to get back at the Huskies. The Wildcats have been up to the challenge in most of the matches they've played so far this season. They have scored 10 goals to their opponents nine, taken 93 shots (11.6 per game), and their shots on goal percentage is quite solid at 55.9 percent. Perhaps the most impressive stat for Wayne State is that they have assists on all 10 of their goals. Senior midfielder Maia Vacks is a big part of this as she has three assists already this season and has scored a goal as well. 

The Wildcats are led by fourth-year head coach Emily Hester.
 
Scouting Sioux Falls

The Cougars (0-7, 0-3 NSIC), haven't managed to grab their first win yet this season, but they've come close in each of their last four games. They have lost their last four games each by just one goal, so they are close to making a breakthrough for that first win. In their last game, they lost 1-0 to Bemidji State. The Cougars managed 3 shots, one of which on goal. Senior goalkeeper Caroline Titze managed to make seven saves in the effort. Sophomore midfielder Mara Nelson has one of the three Cougar goals this season, and she leads her team in shots on goal with six. Sioux Falls on the year has put up 51 shots (7.3 per game), 24 of which being on goal, and that equals a 47.1 percent shots on goal mark. 

The Cougars are guided by 10th-year head coach Brittany Domino.