Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State women's soccer team will kick-off the 2022 regular season in Billings, Montana; taking part in the Rimrock Classic with games on Thursday and Saturday afternoon. The Wolves will take on the host school of Montana State Billings on Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. (CST) and will then face off against Black Hills State at 1 p.m. (CST) on Saturday afternoon.

Game & Fan Information

• Links to watch both games, follow live stats, and view the NSU game notes are available above
• MSUB soccer ticket information is linked above
• Due to turf issues at MSUB's soccer facilities game locations have been moved as of Wednesday afternoon; Thursday's game against against Montana State Billings will be played at Amend Park in Billings, and Saturday's game against Black Hills State will be played at Rocky Mountain College's Herb Klindt Field (game times will remain the same)

Northern State Storylines

• Following a 7-6-5 (6-4-5 NSIC) season in 2021, Northern State was picked to finish eighth place in the 2022 NSIC Preseason Soccer Coaches' Poll
• The Wolves return two All-NSIC performers from a year ago, as Lilja Davidsdottir was named All-NSIC First Team and Megan Fastenau was named All-NSIC Second Team
• Davidsdottir is one of five returners that started in all 18 games in 2021, she is joined by Mia Zagorski, DeAnna LeMire, Paige Hutton, and Alexus Townsend; in total NSU brings back ten players who started a game last season for a total of 144 starts
• As a freshman, Fastenau ranked sixth in the NSIC in goals scored (8) and seventh in points (17)
• Fastenau notched a season-best three goals in a 3-2 victory over Concordia-St. Paul last season, becoming the 20^th player in program history to record a hat-trick
• Also as a freshman, Townsend recorded seven shutouts in goal, making 95 saves and recording a 0.841 save percentage
• Bob Casper enters his second season as the head women's soccer coach at Northern State, he holds a record of 7-6-5 (6-4-5 NSIC) during his time with the Wolves

Montana State Billings Storylines

• Following a 7-9-3 (4-8-2 GNAC) season in 2021, Montana State Billings was picked to finish sixth place in the 2022 GNAC Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll
• The Yellowjackets return a core group of young talent from last year's team as they had three freshman earn all-conference honors including Liberty Palmer (GNAC Freshman of the Year and Second Team All-GNAC), Clare Keenan (Second Team All-GNAC), and Sydney Wate (GNAC Honorable Mention)
• Palmer was second on the team in goals and points last season, netting five goals and adding one assist for 11 points for MSUB last year
• Keenan tallied 76 saves in goal for the Yellowjackets, recording one shutout and a 0.738 save percentage in 15 games a season ago
• Stephen Cavallo enters his sixth season as the head women's soccer coach at Montana State Billings, he holds a career record of 24-47-8 (12-35-4 GNAC)

Looking Back to 2021

• Northern State scored a season-opening victory over Montana State Billings last season, as Fastenau scored her first career goal in a 1-0 win and win number one of the Bob Casper era
• Townsend notched a complete game shutout with ten saves in the match, earning herself NSIC Goalkeeper of the Week
• The Yellowjackets lead the all-time series 3-1

Black Hills State Storylines

• Following a 3-11-1 (2-9-1 RMAC) season in 2021, Black Hills State was picked to finish tenth place in the 2022 RMAC Women's Soccer Preseason Poll
• Freshman standout Emma Avery returns for her second season with the Yellow Jackets, her five goals last season tied a program single season record and earned herself 2021 All-RMAC Honorable Mention
• In BHSU's 4-1 win over MSU Moorhead last year, Avery netted three goals for only the second hat-trick in program history
• Andrew Conniff enters his second season as the head women's soccer coach at Black Hills State, with a 3-11-1 record in his first season the team matched a program-best three wins since its inception in 2016
• Conniff was previously the head men's soccer coach at Colorado Mesa (2019-20) and South Dakota Mines (2017-19), compiling a career record of 16-30-8 (12-27-6 RMAC) in three seasons as a collegiate men's soccer coach

Looking Back to 2018

• The last time Northern State and Black Hills State met on the field, the Wolves defeated the Yellow Jackets 2-0 in the inaugural game at the NSU Athletic and Recreation Fields on September 1, 2018
• The Wolves lead the all-time series 3-0, and have outscored the Yellow Jackets 14-1 in the three previous meetings