Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University women's soccer program faces their first weekend of travel in NSIC competition as they play at Wayne State and Augustana. The Wolves will face the Wildcats at 3 p.m. on Friday, September 24, followed by the Vikings at 1 p.m. on Sunday, September 26.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Tickets for Sunday's game at Augustana will be available to purchase at the ticket booth at Morstad Field, the ticket booths and gates will open one hour prior to the start of the match
• Live stats and video are available at the links above

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• Northern State enters Friday's match against Wayne State with a record of 2-2 (1-1 NSIC)
• The Wolves split their two matches last weekend, loosing to Bemidji State 2-1, and defeating Minnesota Crookston 4-0
• Alexus Townsend is currently fifth in the NSIC in saves per game (5.75), sixth in saves (23), seventh in save percentage (0.821) and ninth in goals against average (1.429)
  • Townsend was named the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week on September 7 following her first career shutout win in her first career start against Montana State Billings
  • Mackenna Heiden and Alexus Townsend combined for a shutout against Crookston, each playing a half in goal
• Northern State is sixth in the NSIC in saves per game (5.75), and is tied for fifth for the fewest goals allowed this season (5)
• Eva Larson scored her first two career goals in the second half of Sunday's game against Minnesota Crookston
• Chloe Strom earned her first career points last weekend, with two assists to Eva Larson against the Golden Eagles
• Northern State statistical leaders
  • Goals: Eva Larson (2)
  • Assists: Chloe Strom (2)
  • Points: Eva Larson (4)
  • Saves: Alexus Townsend (23)

 
WAYNE STATE STORYLINES

• Wayne State enters Friday's contest with a record of 0-4-1 (0-2 NSIC)
• Last weekend the Wildcats began NSIC play with losses against Minnesota State 2-1, and Concordia-St. Paul 1-0
• Prior to the 2021 season Wayne State was picked eighth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Players to watch for WSC include Katherine Hageman, Haley Hoffman, and Megan Phillips
  • Hageman was selected as the NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week on September 13, following a 11 save shut-out performance against #24 Missouri Western
  • Hageman ranks third in the NSIC in fewest goals allowed (3), fourth in fewest goals allowed average (0.945), and fourth in save percentage (0.850)
  • Phillips is tied for fourth in the NSIC for goals scored (2), tied for fifth in total shots (16), tied for fifth in shots on goal (8), and fifth in points (5)
• Emily Hester is in her fourth season as a head coach at the collegiate level with a career record of 6-27-8, and has a record of 0-4-1 in her first season with the Wildcats
• Wayne State statistical leaders
  • Goals: Megan Phillips (2)
  • Assists: Megan Phillips/Payton Haliburton (1)
  • Points: Megan Phillips (5)
  • Saves: Katherine Hageman (17)

 
LOOKING BACK TO 2019

• Northern State and Wayne State's last match-up was October 20, 2019, where the two teams battled to a 1-1 draw in Wayne, Nebraska
• The Wolves lead the all-time series 16-10-3, and two of the last three meetings have resulted in a tie

 
AUGUSTANA STORYLINES

• Augustana enters this weekend with a record of 2-2-1 (1-0-1 NSIC), and will host MSU Moorhead on Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
• The Vikings started NSIC play 1-0-1 last weekend, beginning with a 1-1 draw against Concordia-St. Paul, and defeating Minnesota State 1-0
• Prior to the start of the 2021 season Augustana was tabbed second in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll with three first place votes, returning 14 players and five starters from their 2019 team which finished second in the conference
• Players to watch for the Vikings include Sylvia Fehr, Morgan Keirstead, Alexis Legg, and Bailey Parsons
  • Fehr was named honorable mention All-NSIC in 2019; she is currently tied for first in the NSIC for assists (3) and tied for first in average assists per game (0.600)
  • Keirstead is a two-time member of the Second Team All-NSIC in 2018 and 2019, and is currently tied for fifth in the NSIC for assists (2)
  • Legg was Third Team All-NSIC and Freshman of the Year in 2018, and was honorable mention All-NSIC in 2019
• Offensively Augustana leads the league in corners (33) and is third in shot attempts (67)
• Brandon Barkus is in his 19^th season as a head coach at the collegiate level with a career record of 185-125-31, and a record of 157-101-29 in his 16^th season at Augustana
• Augustana statistical leaders
  • Goals: Sierra Barkus/Macie Haggerty/Carlie Kray/Alexis Legg (1)
  • Assists: Sylvia Fehr (3)
  • Points: Sylvia Fehr (3)
  • Saves: Jillian Barkus (31)

 
LOOKING BACK TO 2019

• Northern State and Augustana's last match-up was October 18, 2019, where the Vikings picked up the 5-1 victory in Sioux Falls
• The Vikings lead the all-time series 12-8-1, and is currently on a nine-game win streak in the series