Huskies to host a UP pair to kick off 2017 season

ST. CLOUD—Soccer season in St. Cloud kicks off this weekend as the Huskies host non-conference foes Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech on Friday, September 1 and Sunday, September 3, respectively, at Husky Stadium.

SCSU will get the ball rolling against the Wildcats at 5 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Saturday against the Huskies.

St. Cloud State students with a valid university ID will receive free admission to all 2017 Husky home games. General public tickets can be purchased the day of at the Husky Stadium box office.

HUSKY NOTES:

ALL-TIME MEETINGS: This is the fourth-straight season the Huskies have opened with non-conference matches against Northern Michigan and Michigan Tech and the second they will host the GLIAC pair at Husky Stadium. SCSU defeated NMU, 2-0, in Marquette, Mich., in last year's season opener before falling, 1-0, to MTU in Houghton, Mich. All-time, St. Cloud State is 5-3-0 against the Wildcats and 0-3-0 against the Huskies.
Northern Michigan finished eighth in the GLIAC in 2016 with a 3-4-4 conference mark and 4-10-4 overall. Michigan Tech placed third in the conference and went 6-2-3 in the league and 12-4-3 overall.
EXHIBITION ACTION: The Huskies wrapped up their three-game preseason slate with an unbeaten 2-0-1 record. SCSU defeated Wisconsin-Green Bay, 1-0; drew with Augsburg University, 2-2; and beat Saint Benedict, 1-0.
PRESEASON POLL: After placing sixth in 2016 with a 6-5-4 conference record, SCSU was picked to finish fifth in the NSIC this season by the league's coaches. Coupled with their 2015 fifth place finish, the Huskies have made back-to-back NSIC Tournament appearances for the first time since 2011 and 2012.
KASS LEADS THE CHARGE: SCSU returns four of its top five goal-scorers and point-getters this season, led by two-time All-NSIC selection junior forward Maria Kass. The Pewaukee, Wis., native paced the Huskies with nine goals and 22 points in 2016 and has led the team in scoring in each of her first two seasons.
DOMINANT DEFENSE: Three-time All-NSIC senior defender Mackenzie Winters will anchor the St. Cloud State back line, which ranked as the seventh-stingiest in the NSIC last year allowing just 1.22 goals per game. Winters played every minute of every game for the Huskies in 2016.
WE'RE BAAACK: Overall, SCSU returns eight starters and 16 letter winners from 2016's NSIC Tournament Team, including All-NSIC honorable mention junior midfielder Kelli Santo Paulo, as well as sophomore forward Hannah Marion and sophomore midfielder Brooke Bares who each notched three goals in their rookie campaigns.

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Players Mentioned

Brooke Bares

Maria Kass

Hannah Marion

Kelli Santo Paulo

Mackenzie Winters

Saint Cloud State University Athletics