MORRIS, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Morris women's soccer team is making a push for the playoffs with two games remaining in the regular season. The Cougars close out their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) starting on Wednesday at North Central University at 1 p.m., followed by the season finale at the University of Northwestern at 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
All UMAC games can be found on the UMAC Sports Network app or by clicking here. To follow the live stats of UMM at NCU click here and to follow the live stats of UMM at UNW click here.
 
Minnesota Morris faced two of the top teams in the conference last week — Bethany Lutheran College and the University of Wisconsin–Superior. In the final minute against Bethany Lutheran, Katelin McElroy scored her first collegiate goal, while Rourke Nebel netted the Cougars' lone goal against UW–Superior. Despite not earning results in either match, UMM currently sits tied for fourth in the UMAC standings with a conference record of 4-5-1.
 
So far this season, the Cougars have scored 18 goals. First-year standout Brianna Ganske leads the team with five goals, followed by Bella Toth, Hope Berscheit, and Nebel with three each. Ashlynn Pollreisz leads the team with four assists. In goal, CJ Frear-Boerner has started all 17 games, making 106 saves, earning five wins, and recording four shutouts.
 
North Central enters the final week of the regular season with a 1-12-1 overall record and a 0-9-1 mark in UMAC play. Last week, the Rams fell 12-0 to UW–Superior and 9-1 to Bethany Lutheran. The lone NCU goal came from Paula Capili in the 75th minute. North Central has scored nine goals this season, led by Capili with three, followed by Ramiyah Words with two. Goalkeeper Erma Ramirez has played all but 45 minutes this season, making 199 saves.
 
Earlier this season, the Cougars defeated the Rams 5-1 at home. Nebel led UMM with two goals, while Toth, Ganske, and Talalupe Levale also found the back of the net. Minnesota Morris leads the all-time series 23-1.
 
The University of Northwestern currently sits in third place in the UMAC, just two points behind first, with a conference record of 7-1-2 and an overall record of 8-5-3. Last week, the Eagles went 1-1, falling 3-0 to Central College in nonconference play before bouncing back with a 1-0 victory over Martin Luther College. The Eagles are led by Haley Mersberger, whose 13 goals rank second in the UMAC, and Marie Kendall, whose 10 goals rank third. In goal, Sam Hansen has started all 16 games, making 67 saves.
 
In the first meeting between the teams, Northwestern came out on top 3-0. Frear-Boerner made 13 saves, and Pollreisz recorded three shots on goal but could not break through. Despite that loss, the Cougars still lead the all-time series 21-18-3.