• THE MINNESOTA CROOKSTON women's soccer team is back on the road for an important weekend. The Golden Eagles take on University of Sioux Falls Friday, October 14 at 6 p.m., before facing Southwest Minnesota State University Sunday, October 16 at 1 p.m. The Golden Eagles come into the road series with a 2-11 (1-9 NSIC) record. Minnesota Crookston picked up an important win over Homecoming as they upended Upper Iowa University 2-1 for their first NSIC win of 2022. They will look to build on the victory heading into this weekend. The Golden Eagles come into the weekend in 16th in the NSIC standings. They are just one point back from the University of Sioux Falls, and four points back of Southwest Minnesota State University.

• WINS OVER THE HAWKEYE STATE. Minnesota Crookston has found success against teams from Iowa this season, the home state of Head Coach Kyle Halfpop, an Urbandale native. The Golden Eagles picked up a 2-1 win over Waldorf University, based in Forest City, Iowa, Sunday, August 28, and defeated Upper Iowa University, based in Fayette, Iowa, Friday, 
October 7. The Golden Eagles are looking to build on the wins and pick up more victories over teams from the states of Minnesota and South Dakota this weekend.

• SAME SCRIPT. Both of Minnesota Crookston's wins in 2022 have had similar scripts. The Golden Eagles scored a goal in the first half from Abby Fettinger in both games against Waldorf and Upper Iowa. Early in the second half UMN Crookston gave up a goal to the opposition to knot up the game 1-1. Minnesota Crookston then picked up the decisive goal in each game from Alyssa Pavlacic to walk off with 2-1 victories. If it takes similar scripts to win more games this season I am sure Coach 
Halfpop and the team will be all for it. 

• BRAINERD IN GOAL. Senior Goalie Kathryn Brainerd transitioned back to goalie in 2022 after playing in the field as a junior in 2021. Brainerd has nine starts in goal with a 2.86 goals against average. Brainerd has been in net for both victories this season. She has 72 saves during the 2022 season. Brainerd notched 13 saves Sunday versus Winona State. She will look to be an instrumental part moving forward for UMN Crookston. When she isn't in net, Brooklyn Fischbach has seen the second-most time. Fischbach has a 3.33 goals against average, with 14 saves for the Golden Eagles.

• ALL-CONFERENCE. Jada VanOverbeke became the program's first all-conference player since 2016 after a strong season in the back row for the Golden Eagles in 2021. VanOverbeke will be a tone setter from the back of the defense for the 2022 season. She will be crucial for UMN Crookston in protecting the goalies and helping to organize from the back. 
VanOverbeke has started all 13 games and has played all 1,170 minutes this season for Minnesota Crookston. 

• LOOK OUT FOR FETTY. Abby Fettinger was key offensively for the Golden Eagles in 2021. The sophomore made the transition from the back row to the front row as a freshman and looks poised to make an impact in 2022. Fettinger's speed in front is crucial. Fettinger has two goals during the 2022 season, in both wins for UMN Crookston. She picked up her most recent goal versus Upper Iowa University. She is tied for the team-lead with four points. Fettinger leads the squad with 12 shots, and is tied for the team lead with five shots on goal. 

• HALFPOP CONNECTION.  Minnesota Crookston Head Coach Kyle Halfpop served as the assistant coach at the University of Sioux Falls for three seasons under Brittany Domino. He helped the Cougars to five wins during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. He will look to get his first win against the Cougars as an opposing coach. 

• GAME-WINNER.  Alyssa Pavlacic scored her first goal of her career as a Golden Eagle, proving to be the game winner against Waldorf. Pavlacic followed up the Waldorf performance by scoring a game-winning goal over NSIC foe Upper Iowa over Homecoming weekend. Pavlacic has been clutch for the Golden Eagles during the 2022 season. She is tied for the team lead with four points. 

• FRESHMEN.  Minnesota Crookston has five freshmen who are playing crucial roles for the Golden Eagles in 2022. Uda Kimba and Julia Finch have each started all 13 games. Sarah Burgum has started eight games and has one assist as a freshman. Tayettin Brodzinski and Britney Le have played key roles off the bench. 

• ADDITION TO THE ROSTER.  Minnesota Crookston added Greta Saylor to the roster this week. The New Brighton, Minn., native was already attending UMN Crookston as a student and decided to come out for soccer. She played the 2021 season at Minnesota State University Moorhead, appearing in 16 games, with five shots, four on goal. 

• SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS. Sioux Falls comes into the weekend with a 0-9-4 (0-6-4 NSIC) record. The Cougars are winless on the season and have four ties. USF has yet to find the back of the net during the 2022 season. They are averaging 4.8 shots per game. Sioux Falls has been strong defensively, giving up just 1.85 goals per game, and 17.6 shots per game. Aundria Vargas leads Sioux Falls with 12 shots, eight on goal. Julia Kreutner comes in with 11 shots, seven on frame. In goal, Holli Knudsen and Caroline Titze have split time for the Cougars. Knudsen has a 1.85 goals against average, with 54 saves. Titze also has a 1.85 goals against average, but has 55 saves in 2022. 

  • SCOUTING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE. The Mustangs enter the weekend with a 1-5-7 (1-5-4 NSIC) record. Southwest Minnesota State's lone NSIC win came September 25 over the University of Minnesota Duluth. The Mustangs are averaging 0.92 goals per game, while they are allowing 1.38 goals per game. Southwest Minnesota State is propelled by the play of Alex Lotts, with five goals and two assists. Kirsten Wetterstrom comes in with two goals and two assists. Haley Mason has two goals and one assist. Rachel Hicks has nine starts in goal, with a 0.89 goals against average, with 39 saves. Julianne Arballo has started the other five games, with a 2.50 goals against average.

WEEKLY SNAPSHOT

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Kathryn Brainerd (5-7, Corcoran, Minn.) 2.86 GAA, 72 saves
So. D 23 Jada VanOverbeke (5-6, Hartford, S.D.) 13 starts
Fr. D 3 Julia Finch (5-6, Woodbury, Minn.) 13 starts
Fr. D 9 Uda Kimba (5-5, Rock Island, Ill.) 13 starts
Sr. D 22 Ashley Chomyn (5-5, Winnipeg, Manitoba) 0 goals, 1 assist
Sr. MF 8 Alyssa Pavlacic (5-9, St. Charles, Mo.) 2 goals, 0 assists
Jr. MF 7 Madelyn Teplansky (5-3, Apple Valley, Calif.) 0 goals, 1 assist
So. MF 6 Lanie Padelford (5-1, Mahtomedi, Minn.) 9 starts
Sr. F 19 Morgan Laplante (5-9, De Soto, Kan.) 0 goals, 2 assists
Fr. F 12 Sarah Burgum (5-10, Mandan, N.D.) 0 goals, 1 assist
So. F 15 Abby Fettinger (5-5, White Bear Lake, Minn.) 2 goals, 0 assists

SIOUX FALLS
Projected Starters
Sr. GK 1 Holli Knudsen (Omaha, Neb.) 1.85 GAA, 54 saves
Jr. D 5 Haley Nelson (Stillwater, Minn.) 6 starts
Jr. D 14 Kelsey Oswald (Yankton, S.D.) 13 starts
Fr. D 15 Alivia Tindall (Nampa, Idaho) 13 starts
Jr. D 23 Lauren Johnson (Apple Valley, Minn.) 13 starts
Fr. MF 9 Mara Parker (Omaha, Neb.) 12 starts
So. MF 16 Abby Whittington (Lakeville, Minn.) 4 starts
So. MF 21 Addison Westermeyer  (Elk River, Minn.) 3 starts
Sr. F 10 Alexis Naujokaitis (Omaha, Neb.) 11 starts
Jr. F 18 Sarah Miller (Monument, Colo.) 12 starts
So. F 20 Julia Kreutner (Brandon, S.D.) 13 starts

SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
Projected Starters
Jr. GK 1 Rachel Hicks (5-6, Rexburg, Idaho) 0.89 GAA, 39 saves
Sr. D 3 Hayleigh Young (5-6, Rapid City, S.D.) 13 starts
Sr. D 18 Madi Foutz (5-3, Brighton, Colo.) 1 goal, 0 assists
Sr. D 20 Katie Oatman (5-7, Plattsmouth, Neb.) 13 starts
So. D 23 Emma Dahnert (5-8, Owatonna, Minn.) 2 starts
So. D 26 Emily Maciel (5-7, Long Beach, Calif.) 13 starts
Fr. MF 5 Sandra Kraling (5-0, Rochester, Minn.) 0 goals, 1 assist
Fr. F 2 Haley Mason (5-2, Chippewa Falls, Wis.) 2 goals, 1 assist
So. F 8 Selena Prolic (5-4, West Allis, Wis.) 1 goal, 1 assist
Sr. F 24 Alex Lotts (5-3, Champlin, Minn.) 5 goals, 2 assists
So. F 29 Sydney Johnson (5-9, Maple Grove, Minn.) 0 goals, 1 assist

GAMEDAY

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT SIOUX FALLS
DATE: Fri., Oct. 15
TIME: 6 p.m.
SITE: Sioux Falls, S.D.
FIELD: Bob Young Field
LIVE STATS: https://usfcougars.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO: https://nsicnetwork.com/usfcougars/
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonSOC

MINNESOTA CROOKSTON AT SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
DATE: Sun, Oct. 17
TIME: 1 p.m.
SITE: Marshall, Minn.
FIELD: Mattke Field at Schwan Regional Event Center
LIVE STATS: https://smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
LIVE VIDEO:https://nsicnetwork.com/smsumustangs/?B=424928
TWITTER: @UMNCrookstonATH/@UMNCrookstonSOC

- Can the Golden Eagles score against two tough defenses?

- Can Minnesota Crookston move up the standings with a pair of wins?

- Will Alyssa Pavlacic continue to be clutch for the Golden Eagles?

- Who will step up defensively for UMN Crookston?

- Can the Golden Eagles play strong out of the gate against both teams?