Cougar men's soccer opens up conference play this weekend, hosting two games at Cougar Field. It will also be the first weekend of UMAC play for UMM, as they welcome the Crown Storm and the Northwestern Eagles on Sept. 17 and 18 respectively.

Crown enters with a 1-3-1 record, and will match up with Minnesota Morris at 4:00 p.m. on Friday Sept. 17. The Cougars swept the Storm last season by a combined score of 6-1. Crown got their first win this season with a 5-4 decision over St. Mary's on Sept. 7, but is coming off a tough 9-0 loss to Concordia on Sept. 11. 

Northwestern was tabbed in the preseason to finish in third in the UMAC, and is entering the weekend off a big 2-0 win over Bethel on Sept. 9. The Cougars also won twice over Northwestern in 2009, winning 5-0 at home and 1-0 in St. Paul.

The Cougars come into the weekend with the reigning UMAC Offensive and Defensive Player's of the Week. After scoring his first career goal last Sunday, freshman Matt Bennis, likes the idea of opening up league play at home.

“First game of the conference in front of our fans, it should be a good turnout,” Bennis said. “All of us are pretty excited about it.”

In their last match – with the Scots ranked No. 7 in the nation – UMM tied Macalester 1-1 after 110:00 minutes of play. The Cougars led 1-0 until late in the match with a Bennis goal providing the margin.  After preserving the tie in overtime the Cougars had a great week of practice heading into UMAC play.

“We had two really good games,” Bennis said. And it will be nice to kick off conference (play). The guys are starting to bond pretty well together.”

The Cougar women will play before the men on each day, at 2:00 p.m. on Sept. 17 and 12:00 p.m. on Sept. 18. The marquee match-up will be the men on Saturday at 2:00 when the preseason No. 2 Cougars taken on the preseason No. 3 Eagles at 2:00 p.m.

Fans make your way out to Cougar field this weekend!