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SCSU Soccer gears up for a challenging NCC
By Drew Sandholm
It's no doubt the SCSU women's soccer team will be a strong contender as they open up their North Central Conference (NCC) schedule this Saturday. They've already achieved a 5-4-1 record and have showed considerable improvement recently.
Finishing the season with a 7-7-2 overall record, the Huskies are proving they expect more.
"Our philosophy has been to go into every game with no expectations, but to play great soccer," said head coach Stephanie McGuinness. "We don't expect to see an easy game, but I mean every team is beatable."
Nonetheless, here is a team-by-team peek at the NCC:
South Dakota State
The Jackrabbits have entered this season just as they had hoped to, with a great feeling of nostalgia. With a 6-2-1 overall record so far, SDSU gives motion to the past two years where they found themselves with overall winning records, last year finishing at 10-8.
With the addition of 13 new players, team leadership will be a major adversity for the Jackrabbits.
In his fourth season, head coach Lang Wedemeyer realizes the challenge as the NCC schedule unfolds.
"It will be difficult to find how quickly our upperclassmen make our newer players realize the intensity of the upcoming schedule," Wedemeyer said.
Senior defenseman Melissa Speiser and junior mid-fielder Molly Scharfenkamp have provided that leadership as the team's leading scorers, with a combined 10 goals.
Last season, the Huskies slammed SDSU 2-1 in overtime. A year later, Wedemeyer looks forward to Saturday's match.
"St. Cloud is always a tough game. They beat us last year in overtime, but maybe it will be a great time to seek some good revenge."
Augustana
Picked to finish eighth in the NCC Preseason Coaches Poll, the Vikings nonetheless have a lot to work with. Fifteen players, including nine starters, returned to the pitch this year for Augustana.
The Vikings have a 5-2-1 overall record so far this season with an amazing 12 goals. First-year forward/midfielder Erin Seidel has been off the hook.
Seidel is known for her quick feet and could be a major threat to the Huskies at Sunday's game.
"I'm not really threatened at all because our defense has been so great," said sophomore goalie Stephanie Brendel. "Bring her on. That's all I have to say."
Last season second-year head coach Steve Burkhalter led Augustana to a disappointing 4-15-1 overall record. The Vikings finished their 2002 NCC schedule with a 1-7 record.
Nebraska-Omaha
With a 9-0-1 overall record thus far, it's not necessary to stress the Mavericks are nothing short of an absolute powerhouse.
Finishing last season just one game away from perfection, NO garnered an impressive 22-1 overall record.
The Mavericks' 16 returning players, including three seniors, has helped the team to dominate on the pitch. Their numerous returning veterans will come back with the experience of finishing second nationally last season.
A 19-game home winning streak will make things hard for the Huskies when they do battle Oct. 12.
"I think it's kind of exciting to play against a team like that," McGuinness said. "Hopefully we will play very well and our hard work will put us on top."
North Dakota
The NCC recognized sophomore forward Meghan Mutrie as the Offensive Player of the Week and with good cause.
Scoring four goals and three assists for 11 total points this season, Mutrie has helped lead the Fighting Sioux to achieve their 10-0 overall record this season.She shot for three goals Sunday to help rock Southwest State University in a 6-0 decision.
Already having kicked off conference play, UND takes on the Huskies Oct. 17 at home. McGuinness has no worries for the match.
"I think they are overrated," McGuinness said. "Not to say they aren't a good team, but you have to look at who've they've played. I mean, I really believe that if we go in and play the way we play then you'll see who goes out with the win by playing harder."
North Dakota State
The Bison will kick off their NCC schedule Saturday when they host the University of South Dakota.
They begin their schedule unbeaten with a 7-0-1 overall record this season. NDSU topped Wheeling Jesuit College 3-1 in Wheeling, W.V. last week and stomped West Virginia Wesley at 1-0. That led to the fifth Bison shutout this year.
NDSU has been putting some pretty numbers on the board. They've outshot their opponents 186-61 and attempted more corner kicks (56-15) thus far.
Bison first-year goalkeeper and St. Cloud native Jessica Nei has 0.65 goals against average, while making 27 saves.
MSU-Mankato
With a 6-4-0 overall record this season, MSU has shown some all-around solid play.
The Mavericks outshot Rockhurst College 26-14 yesterday, only to go on for the win with a 2-1 decision at home.
A key to MSU's success has been their junior goalie Erica Destache, who helped to pick up the win against Rockhurst by stopping nine of the 10 shots she faced.
Junior forward Danni Klinsing and senior forward Amber Dusosky have provided the leadership the Mavericks need to stay offensively competitive. Klinsing and Dusosky lead MSU with 16 goals combined.
MSU and the striking duo will travel to SCSU to faceoff with the Huskies on Oct. 25. The match-up has been a rivalry in the past and the match should prove to be an entertaining end to the season.
"Mankato is a strong team and has been historically," McGuinness said. "We tend to have a rivalry with them. I'm not sure they have a rivalry with us, but we are looking for a win this season."
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