Warrior Soccer Opens 2015 Hosting Pair of Michigan Foes

WINONA, Minn. -- Winona State kicks off its 2015 season on Friday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. under the lights at the newly-named Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium when it takes on the Michigan Tech Huskies. It then hits the field again Sunday at noon to host the Northern Michigan Wildcats. Both games are rematches of the season openers last year at the Michigan schools.

Follow the action live for free in HD via the Warrior Sports Network.

HOME COOKING: After opening on the road in 2014, the Warriors will benefit by having five of their first six games inside the friendly confines of Warrior Stadium. After hosting three nonconference games, WSU makes a quick NSIC-opening stop at Upper Iowa before returning home for the first conference weekend vs. Wayne State and Augustana.

SENIOR LEADERSHIP: The 2015 edition of Warrior Soccer will have no shortage of experience and leadership, with nine seniors on the roster. The Warriors had a total of 13 seniors in the previous two seasons combined, including just five last season.

THE ONLY COACH THEY KNOW: Head coach Ali Omar enters his 21st season roaming the Warrior sidelines. Omar, who started the program in 1995, is the only coach in the history of WSU soccer.

UNPRECEDENTED SUCCESS: When it comes to head coach Ali Omar, it's not just a career of longevity, it's a career of consistent success. Save from a 1-7 season in the program's inaugural year, Omar's Warriors have recorded double digit wins and a winning record in each and every season since. WSU was crowned NSIC Champions for eight straight seasons from 2004-2011 and have won six NSIC Tournament titles to go with six NCAA Tournament appearances.

OMAR CLIMBING THE CHARTS: Omar enters 2015 with 287 career victories, currently eighth on the Division II all-time victories chart. The winningest head coach in NSIC history also ranks ninth all-time in winning percentage, claiming victory at a .738 clip.

PRESEASON RESPECT: The Warriors are a yearly staple toward the top of the NSIC Preseason coaches' poll, and 2015 is no different. WSU, which has never been picked lower than third in the poll's history, was picked second in this season's version, behind only last year's regular season and tournament champion Minnesota State. Augustana was picked directly behind the Warriors, followed by Upper Iowa and Minot State.

PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Along with the team's placement in the NSIC poll, senior defender Madalyn Jansen earned the conference's defensive player of the year honor. Jansen was a first team All-NSIC and second team All-Region selection a year ago. Jansen has claimed the NSIC Defensive Player of the Week honor on a pair of occasions as Winona State's defensive anchor. While known for her defense, Jansen flashed a quick display of offense last season, scoring a game-winning overtime goal at MSU Moorhead, the first goal of her collegiate career.

PLAYER TO WATCH: Along with Jansen, junior forward Meg Riebau was named WSU's player to watch in 2015. Riebau played in all 23 games for WSU last season, finishing in a tie for second on the team with four goals - including a pair of game winners - and dished out a pair of assists. 13 of her 38 shots landed on goal.

DEJA VU: The Warriors advanced in the NCAA Tournament in 2014 in eerily similar fashion to the way it did in 2013. After officially finishing in a 1-1 tie with Southwest Baptist in the opening round of the 2013 tournament, WSU's nerves and composure allowed it to advance to the second round in a shootout. Fast forward to 2014, and the same scenario unfolded. Drawing the same SBU squad, WSU prevailed in a shootout after a 1-1 draw.

BOLTON BACK: The Warriors look to get a big boost from junior Mehan Bolton, who returns after suffering a season-ending injury five games into last season. The explosive Bolton made her limited action count, though, scoring three game-winning goals in each of the season's first three games.

OLESON STARTS STRONG: Faced with the task of starting a freshman goalkeeper last season, the Warriors were in good hands - literally - with Rachel Oleson. Oleson made 97 saves - the fifth-most in WSU single-season history, while recording 11 shutouts and posting a 0.72 goals-against-average, which ranks 10th among all-time WSU goalkeepers.

WEEKEND FORECAST: The Warriors, Huskies and Wildcats will have to battle the heat in addition to each other this weekend, with temperatures predicted to be in the upper 80s on both Friday and Sunday, with a slight chance of rain to round out the weekend.

A LOOK AT THE HUSKIES: Michigan Tech is coming off an 11-5-2 season and a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Huskies return its top goal scorer in junior Jacqueline Mielke, who found the back of the net nine times while starting all 18 games. Junior Lexi Herrewig also returns to the lineup after finishing tied for second on the team with four goals. Senior Jenna Phelps returns between the posts for MTU, a year after giving up 16 goals and posting a 0.94 goals-against-average along with six shutouts.

A LOOK AT THE WILDCATS: Northern Michigan is coming off a 7-10-1 season. The Wildcats return their top goal scorer in junior Paula Hafner, who found the back of the net 14 times while starting all 17 games a sophomore in 2014. Junior Carmen Villaruel also returns after a six goal season, while junior goalkeeeper Caroline Glantz is back between the posts after saving 86 shots and allowing 24 goals a year ago.

LAST YEAR VS. MTU: The Warriors opened the 2014 campaign against Michigan Tech on the Huskies' home field, prevailing in a 2-1 victory. The then-23rd ranked Warriors scored first on an unassisted goal from Nicole Sames. Mehan Bolton then broke a 1-1 tie in the 70th minute with her ninth career goal.

LAST YEAR VS. NMU: Winona State opened the season 2-0 after rolling to a 4-1 win over the Wildcats in Marquette, Mich. Already with a 1-0 lead, Bolton got credit with the eventual game winner on a breakaway to put WSU up 2-0. WSU would make it 3-0, before NMU's Abbie Cook got NMU on the board. But a Wildcat own goal in the waning moments sealed the deal for WSU.

TOO MANY SHUTOUTS: Perhaps the one negative statistic from the 2014 season was the number of times the Warriors were shut out. WSU failed to score on six occasions, the most in team history.

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Players Mentioned

#7 Mehan Bolton: F; 5' 5"; Senior; Special Education

#2 Madalyn Jansen: D; 5' 6"; Senior

#0 Rachel Oleson: GK; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#21 Meg Riebau: F; 5' 9"; Junior

#12 Nicole Sames: M; 5' 4"; Senior; Nursing

Players Mentioned

#7 Mehan Bolton
: 5' 5"; Senior; Special Education
: F

#2 Madalyn Jansen
: 5' 6"; Senior
: D

#0 Rachel Oleson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: GK

#21 Meg Riebau
: 5' 9"; Junior
: F

#12 Nicole Sames
: 5' 4"; Senior; Nursing
: M

Winona State Warriors

Players Mentioned

Players Mentioned