UMAC Game of the Week: Martin Luther vs. Northwestern - Women's Soccer
The UMAC Game of the Week runs each Thursday during the conference regular season and breaks down one key matchup from one sport. The 2017-18 season also welcomes the UMAC Weekly Update covering the Game of the Week and other important happenings from around the UMAC.
***UPDATE***
Northwestern wins 3-0
The Matchup
Saturday, Oct. 21 - University of Northwestern at Martin Luther College, women's soccer, 1 p.m. in New Ulm, Minnesota
What's at Stake
- Nearing the title - For Northwestern, a win would keep its conference record unblemished and bring it one game closer to a conference title, maintaining a one-game lead over the College of St. Scholastica.
- Win and in - A win for Martin Luther would lock up the program's first UMAC tournament berth since 2013.
Previously in Action
- Martin Luther suffered a narrow 3-2 loss to the University of Minnesota Morris at home on Wednesday.
- Northwestern extended its winning streak to five-straight games with a 4-1 road win over the University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Need to Know
- Playoff positioning - A win for Martin Luther would make it almost impossible for the Knights to finish worse than third in the conference. A Knight win, along with a tie or loss by Minnesota Morris on Saturday against Northland College, would guarantee the Knights at least third and a first-round bye in the tournament.
- Sights on outright - A win for Northwestern keeps the Eagles atop the the standings with just the eighth and ninth place teams left on the schedule. Should the Eagles go unbeaten or remain the sole possessor of first-place, it would be their first outright women's soccer title since 2000.
- Shutout potential - The Eagles and Knights have combined for nine conference shutout victories this season and 10 total conference shutouts this season as two of the leading defensive teams in the conference.
Players to Watch - Martin Luther
- Lydia Bitter, Fy., M - UMAC stats: 4g, 1a, 9 pts., 2 gwg
- Erin Feddersen, Jr., G - UMAC stats: .552 GAA, 5 GA, .861 sv%
- Morgan Hill, So., M - UMAC stats: 5g, 3 a, 13 pts., 2 gwg
- Hailey Johnson, Sr., M - UMAC stats: 4g, 2a, 10 pts, 1 gwg
Players to Watch - Northwestern
- Samantha Dewey, Jr., G - Honorable Mention last season; UMAC stats: 10.786 GAA, 7 GA, .829 sv%
- Maddie Leever, Jr., M/F - UMAC stats: 4g, 3 a, 11 pts.
- Linley Norman, Jr., F - Honorable Mention last season; UMAC stats: 11g, 2a, 24 pts.
- Anna Welch, Fy., M/F - UMAC stats: 8g, 3a, 19 pts.
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2017-18 Game of the Week Archives