MOORHEAD, Minn. -- Minnesota State Moorhead soccer is set to begin NSIC competition this week in a pair of home matches. The Dragons take on Augustana at 3 p.m. on Friday before facing off with Wayne State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

Live video and results will be available at msumdragons.com. MSUM is coming off a non-conference loss to Minnesota Crookston with the Dragons carrying a 1-1-1 record heading into Friday. 

In the loss, Moorhead moves to 6-4-2 overall in Highway 75 Rivalry Rock games. The two teams will conclude the 2025 regular season playing for the trophy in November. 

The Dragon offense would open the match with a shot on goal from senior Lilly Johnson in the first minute. While the Golden Eagles would respond with a pair of shots before the 10-minute mark, Rylee Truslow would turn both away. Moorhead would have several shots in the first 45 minutes, but several would not find the target as Minnesota Crookston would have a shot saved by Truslow in the 19th minute. Freshman Kaci Malo would have a pair of attempts on the net in the 30th and 32nd minutes, but both were stalled by keeper Payton King. Following one of Malo's shots, King would launch a kick that landed near a streaking Elise Lefers. The Golden Eagle forward pushed the pace and fired a strike for the match's first goal. King was credited with the rare goalkeeper assist. 

Before halftime, both Malo and Lauryn Katzenberger would put shots on net with King stopping both. At the break, Minnesota Crookston led 1-0. Abbey Johnson would find the net early in the second half for the Dragons, but again, King made quick work of the attempt. While the Dragons would continue to pepper in shots throughout the second half, all would have a tough time finding the target. It was not until the 84th minute where MSUM would have another solid chance off the foot of Madalynn Hopkins. The sophomore had two shots on goal in quick succession, but both were stopped by King. 

In the match's latter stages, MSUM would see shot attempts from Hopkins and Ana Cecilia Walker, but King proved to be a game opponent all afternoon. The Minnesota Crookston keeper made 10 saves and kept a clean sheet throughout as the Golden Eagles won, 1-0. Truslow had six saves for MSUM as the Dragons won the shots (24-12) and shots on goal (10-7) battles.

On the year, both Walker and Sophie Thompson leads the Dragons with one goal each. Senior Lizzy Jaraczeski leads the squad with 270 minutes so far while Mary Cox, Abby Toso, Lilly Allen, Lilly Johnson, Blayke Hurley and Thompson have also logged 200 or more minutes. Truslow leads the Dragons with 13 saves on the year and only one goal allowed. 

Scott Forster is in his second season as MSUM's head soccer coach. 

Scouting The Opposition

Augustana
2025 Record: 2-0-1
2024 Record: 10-5-4 (9-2-3 NSIC)
Head Coach: Brandon Barkus (19th Season)
Nickname: Vikings
Top Returner: Madelyn White (2024: 1,094 minutes, four goals, seven assists)

Wayne State
2025 Record: 1-0-2
2024 Record: 7-7-5 (6-4-4 NSIC)
Head Coach: Emily Hester (4th Season)
Nickname: Wildcats
Top Returner: Paige Pemberton (2024: 811 minutes, five goals, four assists)