MSU soccer to play either Augustana or Oklahoma Central
Andrew Neururer
Sports Editor
The Minnesota State Mavericks women’s soccer team will have a bye in the first round of the NCAA Central Region Tournament. They will wait to play either Central Oklahoma Bronchos or Augustana Vikings.
The Mavericks are no strangers to playing against the Vikings, facing them yearly in conference play. This season they’ve faced each other twice – first in the regular season and then in the NSIC Tournament.
The game on Nov. 1 marked the first game between the two. The Mavericks won that game 2-1, with sophomores Nadia Lowery and Jenny Vetter scoring a goal each.
Two weeks later, the two teams squared off in the NSIC Tournament, with the winner advancing to the championship game. The Mavericks added another shutout to their column, winning that game 3-0.
Senior Alesha Duccini, Vetter and freshman Allie Williams were the three responsible for goals in that game.
The Vikings are 15-4-1 and will be looking to get revenge against MSU this season – but that depends on if they can get past the Bronchos.
Central Oklahoma comes into the tournament red-hot, victorious in their last seven games. During that span they have given up just two goals and just one in a shootout victory against Northeastern State in the MIAA postseason tournament.
The Bronchos are 14-4-3 this season and are entering the tournament as the No. 5 seed. Central Oklahoma is averaging close to three goals a game, while giving up about one.
Junior Kelsie Eason and senior Asha Haile are the Bronchos’ leading offensive players. Eason has registered 17 goals and nine assists on the season. Haile is responsible for 12 goals and 11 assists. Those are two players the Mavericks will have to contain shall they play them Sunday.
Central Oklahoma and Augustana will kick-off the first round on Friday in Mankato. The winner of that game will play MSU at home at the Pitch on Sunday.
Header photo: Minnesota State forward Brynn Desens (10) kicks the ball during the second half of a game against Concordia-St. Paul at the Pitch Friday, Nov. 8, 2019 in Mankato, Minn. (Mansoor Ahmad/MSU Reporter)