WINONA, Minn. - Winona State reached the NCAA Tournament for the third straight year in 2015, setting a school record for most consecutive trips to NCAA postseason play. Friday the Warriors open up at Michigan Tech at 6 p.m. On Sunday they will battle Northern Michigan at 12 p.m.

This season the Warriors will have a young but experienced roster. Three NSCAA All-Region players, Meg Riebau, Kenzie Rose and Abby Bohanski are back. Bohanski was the NSIC Freshman of the Year last season after leading the Warriors with 11 goals.

The Warriors reached the NSIC Championship last year before falling to Augustana. Winona lost to NSIC member Minot State 1-0 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Winona State Warriors were selected third in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Northern Sun features two ranked teams in the NSCAA Preseason Poll. Minnesota State- Mankato is eighth and Augustana is ranked 17th. Another NSIC member, Minot State was receiving votes. Last season the Warriors finished behind all three but still qualified for the NCAA Tournament, ranking sixth in the final regional poll. 

Keeper Rachel Oleson is back in net for the Warriors. Last season she played every minute in net and finished with a 0.69 goals-against average. She had 83 saves and 11 shutouts. In two seasons in net, she  has accumulated a 0.71 goals against average (fifth in school history) and 180 saves (third in school history).

Last season the Warriors struggled to find the back of the net at times, finished with their lowest goals per game average since the first season of the program. Despite just 1.09 goals per game the Warriors still won 13 matches, including nine NSIC matches. The team scored nine first half goals on the year, out scoring their opponents by five in the opening half. A majority of the goals last season by Winona and their opponents came in the second half. A total of 24 of the 40 goals were scored in the second half.

Looking at the schedule for 2016 the Warriors will play at home eight times, including seven NSIC matches. WSU will play host to NSIC favorites Augustana and Minnesota State Mankato. In the last three seasons the Warriors are 26-3-3 in home matches.

This year's team features just five upper classmen with two seniors and three juniors. Despite the youth the team has several experienced returners. Nine sophomores return as do three red-shirt freshmen in 2016. 

The 2016 campaign begins with three road games, starting with Michigan Tech. The NSIC season begins against Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa. The first home game is against Ferris State, the only non-conference home match of the year.