Leading off
The Mavericks (6-1-2) officially kick off Summit League competition at home this week as they host North Dakota State (4-4-2) on Thursday at 6 p.m., before closing out the week on Sunday at 1 p.m. vs. South Dakota State (7-2-1) in a rematch of last year's conference championship match. 

Quick Kicks
• In their non-conference finale at Colorado State, Omaha dropped its first match of the season after going unbeaten through the first eight games. This snapped the team's four-game win streak which ultimately tied them with the 2020 squad for the longest winning streak in the Division I era.
• Despite the loss, Omaha's 6-1-2 is the program's best ever non-conference record as a Division I program.
• Omaha's defense remains the best in the conference with just four goals allowed (1.222 per game) and a .902 save percentage. The team's save percentage is also the seventh best in the entire nation.
• The Mavericks are also second in the country in fouls per game at just 5.33, as well as 14th in yellow cards with only two received all season.
• Maja Baun, who has not allowed a goal in five straight matches, leads the conference with a .947 save percentage and a .222 GAA, while Mia Reedtz Rehde Olesen slots in at third in save percentage (.864) and fourth in GAA (.667).
• Marissa Gohr comes into conference play as the team's top offensive player, leading the team and ranking in the league's top 10 in goals (three), assists (three), and points (nine).
• Alyssa Kellar is tied with Gohr for the team lead with three goals and is second in points with seven, while Regan Zimmers and Lauren Schmidt each have two goals apiece.
• Grace Crockett still sits at 14 career assists, putting her one away from setting the program's Division I career record.
• This Sunday not only marks a rematch of last year's Summit League Championship Final against South Dakota State, but will feature a celebration for the 75th anniversary of Caniglia Field.

Scouting the North Dakota State Bison
The Bison enter conference play with a 4-4-2 record after snapping a five-game winless streak last week with a 5-0 win over Saint Ambrose. Currently, the team is averaging 1.50 goals per game and is allowing 0.40 per game. Last year, NDSU finished seventh in the Summit League with a 1-3-4 conference record.

Bison to Watch
After going her first two seasons without a goal, junior midfielder Devon Kavanagh leads the team and is second in the league with four goals. She also has three assists and is tied for first in the conference with 11 points. 

Morgan Russman and Olivia Watson are tied for second on the team and in the league's top 10 with three goals each. Russman also leads the Summit League with 39 shots and 19 shots on goal.

Junior goalkeeper has started seven of the Bison's 10 matches so far, making 28 saves and allowing six goals for a .824 save percentage. Four of her six goals allowed came in one match against Weber State, while she has also posted four matches this season without giving up a goal.

Series History
The Mavericks are 7-10-2 all-time against the Bison with a 4-10-2 record in the Division I era. Since 2021, Omaha is 2-0-1 vs. NDSU, outscoring them 8-3 in that span. In their last meeting on September 24, 2023, the two teams tied 2-2 as Marissa Gohr scored the opening goal while Grace Crockett, Regan Zimmers, and Cece Behrens all recorded an assist in the match.

Scouting the South Dakota State Jackrabbits
The reigning conference champions currently lead the Summit League with a 7-2-1 record. The Jackrabbits come into the week on a three-game winning streak and a seven-game undefeated streak. SDSU is also the highest scoring team in the league with 22 goals (2.2 per game) while ranking third in goals allowed at seven (0.70 per game).

Jackrabbits to Watch
2023 All-Newcomer selection Katelyn Beulke is first on the team and second in the league with four goals, as well as being first on the team and third in the league with 10 points. 

Senior midfielder Avery LeBlanc is tied with Beulke with four goals, notching the game winners in SDSU's last two matches against Oregon State and USC Upstate. Meanwhile, graduate student defender Katherine Jones paces the Jackrabbits with a career-high five assists, ranking her second in the Summit League.

Goalkeepers Emma Knack and Stephanie Leckwold have each appeared in eight matches and started five, totaling 450 minutes played. Leckwold holds the edge in saves with 20, while Knack has only allowed two goals and owns a .867 save percentage. Combined, the duo owns a .825 save percentage, 33 saves and seven goals allowed.

Series History
Omaha owns an 8-10-5 record against SDSU, including a 4-9-4 mark as a Division I program. In their first meeting last year, the team fought to a 1-1 tie in the regular season finale, before meeting again in the Summit League Championship Final where the Jackrabbits came out on top 1-0. Alyssa Kellar scored the goal in the first match and was assisted by Lauren Schmidt and Grace Ostergaard.