MARSHALL, Minn. – The Winona State University women's soccer team opens the final week of the 2018 regular season with a trip to Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday. Kickoff between the Warriors and Mustangs is slated for 4 p.m.
Following that matchup, Winona State returns home to close the regular season on Senior Day Sunday at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium against Sioux Falls. The 1 p.m. kickoff will follow the Warriors' Senior Day ceremony.
Winona State's 2018 Senior Class includes: Abby Bohanski, Shannon Brohan, MacKenzie Challoner, Chase Rehm, Addie Royer, Maggie Ruelle, Jourdan Valkner and Kirsten Windbiel.
The Warriors (6-7-1, 6-6-1 NSIC) enter the final weekend tied for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. Winona State had rattled off five straight wins before suffering back-to-back losses last weekend on its trip to North Dakota.
Sophomore Georgette Topalis's third goal of the season at UMary stood as the Warriors' lone score of the weekend as they were then shutout at Minot State. Topalis shares the team lead in goals with Bohanski and Melissa Greco this season.
In the net, Valkner leads the way with nine starts and 49 saves. Freshman Yanel Ortiz owns an .857 save percentage and recorded shutouts in each of her first three career starts. She gloved 11 of her 18 saves in a win over Minnesota Duluth.
Winona State ranks fourth in the NSIC in shots on goal/game (8.43), but was uncharacteristically held to just five total shots and zero on target in the shutout at Minot. It marked the first time all season the Warriors didn't a single shot on goal.
The Warriors have never lost to SMSU, dominating the all-time series, 30-0-3.
Complete game notes for Sunday's finale against Sioux Falls will be available on Saturday.
Scouting SMSU
The Mustangs (3-12, 3-10 NSIC) have lost seven straight enter Friday's contest with WSU. During that stretch, SMSU has been held to just two goals while suffering five shutouts.
This season, the Mustangs have netted 16 goals over 15 games while allowing 39 to their opponents. Alli Miskowiec (6) and Abbey Hoisington (5) have accounted for 11 of SMSU's 16 goals this year.
Jessica Craigmile and Jenna Meyer have split time in goal for the Mustangs. Craigmile is allowing 2.22 goals/game with 63 total saves while Meyer has a 3.0 goals against average with 40 saves.
Scouting USF
The Cougars (4-10-2, 3-8-2) enter the weekend on a three-game losing streak and travel to Upper Iowa prior to Sunday's regular season finale in Winona. Over its last eight games, Sioux Falls is 1-5-2 and has been limited to just two goals while suffering six shutouts.
The Cougar offense has struggled all season, being limited to 12 goals over 16 games while allowing 25. Lindsey Power leads the team in goals (3), assists (3) and points (9).
Brayden Paul has started all 16 games in net for Sioux Falls and has posted three shutouts. Her 106 saves rank third in the NSIC and she owns an .809 save percentage while allowing 1.52 goals/game.
