(Crookston, Minn.) – The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Women's Soccer team opens the 2013 season when they travel to Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a pair of non-conference matches. The Golden Eagles face Michigan Tech University (MTU) on Thursday, September 5 at 6 p.m. (CST) and Northern Michigan University (NMU) on Saturday, September 7 at 11 a.m. (CST).

UMC finished the 2012 season with an overall record of 2-15-1 and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) record of 2-12-1. Coach Joe Alianiello enters his second season with 24 players in fall camp.

Top returning players include Rachel Halligan (Sr, M, Duluth, Minn.) who scored three goals with two assists for eight points. Elizabeth Busch (So, M, Sioux Falls, S.D.) scored two goals and added an assist for five points while Courtney Armborst (So, F, West St. Paul, Minn.) added one goal and two assists for four points. Ashleigh Erdmann (Jr, GK, Crookston, Minn.) and Drew Underdahl (Jr, GK, Zumbro Falls, Minn.) split time in net last season. Erdmann recorded a 1.49 goals against average and a .797 saves percentage while Underdahl recorded a 2.82 goals against average and a .654 saves percentage.

Golden Eagles @ Michigan Tech University        Thursday, September 5    6 p.m. (CST)

The Huskies finished the 2012 season with an overall record of 14-3-2 and Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) record of 11-1-1. They defeated the Golden Eagles 1-0 in Crookston. MTU is led Lindsey Van Rooy who scored nine goals with three assists for 21 points. Katie Boardman scored seven goals with five assists for 19 points. Janelle Riedl who scored five goals with six assists for 16 points. Lexi Herrewig scored four goals with eight assists for 16 points. Jenna Phelps recorded a record of 13-3-2 in net with a goals against average 0.92 and a saves percentage of .818. She also recorded ten shutouts. The game will be the season opener for both squads.

Golden Eagles @ Northern Michigan University        Saturday, September 7    11 a.m. (CST)    

The Wildcats finished the 2012 season with an overall record of 4-13-0 and GLIAC record of 3-10-0. They defeated UMC 2-0 in Crookston. NMU is led by Tevun Sellers who scored four goals for eight points. Kim Rietveld scored two goals for five points. Shelby Conrad recorded a 2.52 goals against average and a .676 saves percentage. The Wildcats will face the University of Minnesota Duluth on September 5.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
    
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