SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield (UIS) women's soccer team debuts its home season with weekend Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) matches against Drury University and Missouri S&T at Kiwanis Stadium.

SETTING THE SCENE
UIS (3-1-2, 0-1-1) is scheduled to face off with Drury (3-1-1, 1-1) on Friday at 5 p.m. and battle Missouri S&T (0-4, 0-2) on Sunday at 12 p.m.

LOOKING BACK
The Prairie Stars finished 14th in the GLVC last year behind a 7-11 overall record and a 4-11 conference record. Drury placed 15th after putting together a 4-10-3 overall record and a 2-10-3  GLVC record last season. Missouri S&T took 12th in 2016 after compiling a 4-10-1 overall record and a 4-9-1 record in conference play.

WHAT'S HAPPENING LATELY
UIS upset Lindenwood University (3-1), which was ranked No. 25 in last week's United Soccer Coaches (USC) NCAA Division II poll, with a 1-0 win last Tuesday. William Jewell College (4-0, 2-0) captured a 2-0 victory over the Prairie Stars last Friday while UIS fought to a 1-1 tie with Truman State University (0-2-2, 0-1-1) last Sunday. The Prairie Stars recorded a 2-1 victory over Judson University (0-6) on Wednesday.

Drury rolled to a 5-0 victory over the University of Wisconsin-Parkside (1-4, 0-2) last Friday before taking a 1-0 loss to the University of Indianapolis (3-1, 2-0) last Sunday.

Missouri S&T dropped a 3-2 loss last Friday to Indianapolis and was handed a 2-0 loss to No. 7 Bellarmine University (2-0-1, 1-0-1) last Sunday. Lindenwood took a 1-0 victory over the Miners on Tuesday.

STARS OF NOTE
Emily Matsen has netted three goals, including two game-winning goals, to lead UIS this season. Meghan Delaney has provided six points as the result of two goals and two assists. Karisa Rogers has contributed two goals and Madisyn Coudriet had added a goal. Kaylan Mills and Taylor Mraz have each dished out two assists while Kayla Meyer has produced an assist.

A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
Drury returns all 11 starters from last year's squad which earned a 2-0 win over UIS. Tina Haberberger contributed three shutouts and ranked fifth in the GLVC with a .830 save percentage in 2016. The Panthers also return Kerri Morris who tallied 10 points off four goals and two assists last year. Morris has notched nine points off three goals and three assists so far, this season.

The Prairie Stars secured a 1-0 victory over the Miners a year earlier. Missouri S&T brings back eight starters from last year, including Kayla Foster, who led the team with six goals. During the 2016 season, Foster ranked third in the conference with .462 goals per game. She has netted three goals for the Miners this season.

LOOKING AHEAD
The Prairie Stars make the trip to St. Louis, MO to battle Maryville University (2-1-1, 1-0-1) on Friday at 5 p.m. and the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) (1-2-1, 0-2) on Sunday at 12 p.m.

UIS DIVISION II RECORD BOOK WATCH
Matsen is tied for first with four career game-winning goals while Rogers is tied for third with three career game-winning goals. Rogers and Matsen each make up part of a third-place tie in career goals with seven apiece. Among career point leaders, Rogers ranks fifth with 17.

HOW TO WATCH
Friday, Sept. 15: UIS vs. Drury (Live Video) (Live Stats)
Sunday, Sept. 17: UIS vs. Missouri S&T (Live Video) (Live Stats)