SOCCER: Ferris Women Open With Tough Competition In Minnesota

BIG RAPIDS - Ferris State University women's soccer coach Neathan Gibson has always welcomed tough scheduling for his Bulldogs.

This season, Ferris wastes little time getting going with some strong competition as it heads out to Minnesota to take on a national power in Minnesota State-Mankato on Friday (Aug. 28). A year ago, the Mavericks finished 16-4-2 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division II Tournament before they were eliminated by Metro State (Colo.), 1-0.

Minnesota State-Mankato, ranked 15th in the nation this season (NSCAA National Rankings), won the North Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship and made its second straight trip to the NCAA Tournament and the fourth overall.

Meanwhile, the Bulldogs are coming off a season during which they finished 9-9-1 overall under the leadership of Gibson. Ferris defeated Northern Michigan 2-0 in the first round of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference before falling to national power Grand Valley State in the second round, 3-0.

Note about game-time change: The match, which was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., has been rescheduled for 3 p.m., at Minnesota State's Pitch at Gage Towers.