Women's Soccer | 9/26/2017 3:55:00 PM

Quick Notes:

• The North Dakota State University women's soccer team is scheduled to open Summit League play Thursday, Sept. 28, at 7 p.m. at Dacotah Field against the University of South Dakota Coyotes before traveling to Denver, Colo., Sunday, Oct. 1, to take on the Denver Pioneers in a league match at noon MT.
• The Bison have won the last two Summit League regular season titles (2015 and 2016).
• North Dakota State returns five starters from last season's Summit League regular season championship team, including All-Summit League honorees Holly Enderle, Monica Polgar and Mariah Haberle.

The Series Against South Dakota
        Thursday's Summit League opener against the Coyotes will mark the 14th meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 1999. The Bison lead the series, 10-2-1. Last season, South Dakota claimed a 4-0 victory over NDSU in Vermillion, S.D. North Dakota State's last win over USD was a 1-0 double overtime victory in Fargo during the 2015 season.

The Series Against Denver
        Sunday's match at Denver will be the sixth meeting in the all-time series that dates back to 2013. The Pioneers lead the series, 3-1-1. Last season, Denver and NDSU played to a scoreless draw in double overtime in Fargo. North Dakota State's last victory over Denver was during the 2015 campaign when the Bison beat the Pioneers in Denver, 4-3, in double overtime.

North Dakota State Notes

• North Dakota State enters Thursday with an overall record of 2-8-0 after defeating Jamestown, 2-0, Sept. 23, on Dacotah Field.
• Junior defender Hanna Norman leads the Bison offensively through 10 matches with two goals and four points. Junior Malley O'Brien, and freshmen Danielle Algera and Brookelyn Dew have each netted one goal, while Algera, junior Holly Enderle, and freshmen Malana Vachon and Marian Taiwo have each dished out an assist. 
• Sophomore goalkeeper Monica Polgar is 2-3-0 with two shutouts in five appearances and starts, and has allowed eight goals while making 26 saves for a 1.96 goals-against average (GAA).
•  As a team, NDSU is averaging 0.50 goals per game while giving up 2.40 goals per game. The Bison are being outshot, 16.1 to 9.3.
• The Bison were picked to finish tied for second with South Dakota State in The Summit League Women's Soccer Preseason Coaches' Poll. Denver was tabbed the preseason favorite by just one-point.
• NDSU welcomes nine newcomers this season in freshmen Marian Taiwo (F), Danielle Algera (MF), Daniella Jasper (F/MF), Malana Vachon (MF), Brookelyn Dew (F/MF), Grace Sundberg (D), Ellen Schneider (D/MF) and Maddie Burnstein (D), and transfer Nicola De Pape (D).

About South Dakota

• The University of South Dakota enters Thursday at 2-8-0 overall after falling at UMKC Sept. 17, 2-0. USD has dropped its last four matches.
• Through 10 contests, sophomore forward Taryn Labree, junior forward Zoe Anderson and freshman forward Maddison Sullivan have each scored a goal, leading the Coyotes offensively.
• Junior goalkeeper Coral Suarez is 2-5-0 with two shutouts in nine appearances. She has allowed 12 goals while making 44 saves for a 1.62 GAA.
• As a team, South Dakota is averaging 0.40 goals per game while allowing 1.90 goals per game. South Dakota is being outshot, 16.4 to 9.2.
• The Coyotes were picked to finish tied for fifth in The Summit League preseason coaches' poll.
• USD is under the direction of eighth season head coach Mandy Green.

About Denver

• The University of Denver Pioneers enter the weekend at 4-6-1 overall after losing at UC Santa Barbara Sept. 24, 4-0.
• Denver is slated to host South Dakota State Friday before taking on the Bison Sunday.
• Through 11 matches, the Pioneers are led offensively by sophomore midfielder Hannah Adler and senior forward Jessie Dancy, who have each scored a team-high six goals.
• Sophomore goalkeeper Brittany Wilson is 4-4-1 with two shutouts in 10 appearances. She has allowed 15 goals while making 38 saves for a 1.50 GAA.
• As a team, Denver is averaging 1.45 goals per game while surrendering 2.09 goals per game. The Pioneers are outshooting opponents, 13.2 to 12.6.
• Denver was picked as the preseason favorite in The Summit League preseason coaches' poll.
• The Pioneers are under the leadership of 26th season head coach Jeff Hooker.

Summit League Player of the Week Honors

• Monica Polgar, Defensive Player of the Week, Sept. 18

Border States Electric Student-Athlete of the Week Honors

• Monica Polgar, Sept. 26
• Hanna Norman, Sept. 19

New Playing Surface at Dacotah Field
        North Dakota State will be playing on a brand new FieldTurf artificial turf surface at Dacotah Field beginning this season. The turf was installed in the summer of 2017.

Looking Back at 2016

• The Bison compiled a 10-8-1 overall record and won their second straight Summit League regular season title with a 5-2-1 league mark.
• Seven Bison were named All-Summit League. Sophomore Holly Enderle and senior Amy Yang were selected first team all-league, while seniors Natalie Fenske, Genna Joyce and Lizzie Lukas, and freshman Monica Polgar garnered second team all-league honors. Freshman Mariah Haberle was named to the all-freshmen team.
• Holly Enderle, Natalie Fenske and Amy Yang were voted to The Summit League Academic All-League Team.
• Natalie Fenske was voted to the CoSIDA Academic All-District 6 First Team for her performance in the classroom and on the pitch. Fenske was also named a Senior CLASS Award candidate.
• Holly Enderle led the Bison and ranked second in The Summit League with 10 goals and 22 points.
• Amy Yang and Mariah Haberle each dished out a team-best six assists.
• Monica Polgar led the league with six shutouts in goal and tallied a 9-8-0 record with a 1.27 goals-against average (GAA) and 57 saves.

Head Coach Mark Cook
        Mark Cook is in his sixth season at the helm of the North Dakota State soccer program after being named head coach in 2012.  He is the fourth head coach in the 20-year history of the program.
        Cook helped the Bison claim their second straight Summit League regular season championship in 2016, as North Dakota State compiled an overall record of 10-8-1 and a league mark of 5-2-1. NDSU qualified for its eighth consecutive Summit League tournament and hosted the league tournament at Dacotah Field for the first time in program history. Seven student-athletes received All-Summit League honors. Holly Enderle and Amy Yang earned first team all-league accolades, while Natalie Fenske, Genna Joyce, Lizzie Lukas and Monica Polgar were named second team all-league. Mariah Haberle rounded out the Bison honorees and was named to the all-freshmen team, respectively.
        Cook came to NDSU after serving as the Director of Coaching at the Minnesota Thunder Academy for 11 years, where he grew a four-team program into one of the premier club programs in the Twin Cities with 65 teams in 2012.
        Cook holds the United States Soccer Federation 'A' coaching license, the highest certification available in the U.S.  He also has the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA) Premier License and Director of Coaching Diploma.
        He graduated from Alfred (N.Y.) University in 1993 with a bachelor's degree in communications. He was the starting goalkeeper at Alfred for two years.

On the Horizon
        NDSU hosts Oral Roberts and Omaha in a pair of Summit League matches Oct. 6 and 8 at Dacotah Field.