WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's soccer team begins its 2018 season with an NSIC matchup on Thursday afternoon at Upper Iowa University. Kickoff between the Warriors and Peacocks is slated for 3 p.m. in Fayette, Iowa.
Following Thursday's conference opener, Winona State will host Michigan Tech on Sunday in the Warriors' lone non-conference tilt of the year. Game time is set for 12 p.m. against the Huskies at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Upper Iowa got a head start on their 2018 campaign, entering play on Thursday with a record of 1-1. The Peacocks defeated Fort Hays State last week, 1-0, before dropping a 1-0 decision to Washburn University.
Junior Hannah Dotter's first career goal was the game-winner for UIU against Fort Hays. Freshman goalie Natalie Rudrud tallied six saves in the shutout victory while recording 10 in the Peacock loss to Washburn.
Upper Iowa finished 10th in the conference a year ago (5-11-1, 5-9-1 NSIC) and was picked 11th in this season's preseason coaches' poll. Winona State was seventh in the standings last year (9-9-1, 8-6-1 NSIC) and has been tabbed eighth this year.
The Warriors return a veteran squad under the leadership of a new coaching staff in 2018. Head coach Matt Kellogg's team has 20 returning players, including a group of eight seniors.
Three-time All-NSIC selection Abby Bohanski will lead the Warrior offense this season. Bohanski led WSU in points (22), goals (8), assists (6) and shots on goal (27) in 2017. The senior ranks just outside the program's top 10 for career goals scored with 27.
Camryn Cadiz was a 2017 All-NSIC Third Team selection as a freshman. She is joined in the midfield by senior Chase Rehm who netted all three of her career goals over a hot stretch during the 2017 campaign. Senior Addie Royer, junior Kendyl Keay and sophomore Melissa Greco have also been strong in the middle during the preseason.
Seniors Shannon Brohan, MacKenzie Challoner and Maggie Ruelle, along with juniors Bridget Doran and Taylor Johnson are among the defensive returners. Senior goalkeeper Jourdan Valkner returns from injury last season to the net. She made 10 starts in 2016 and recorded three shutouts in five wins.
Michigan Tech Notes
Sunday's contest against Michigan Tech will be the Huskies' fourth of the season. Tech defeated Minnesota Duluth last week, 2-0, and played St. Cloud State to a 2-2 tie. The Huskies will play at Bemidji State on Friday before traveling to Winona.
NEW MAN AT THE HELM: After playing under an interim head coach in 2017, Winona State takes the field in the new year under just the second full-time head coach in program history – Matt Kellogg. Most recently Kellogg was the head coach at the University of North Dakota from 2013-16. Prior to that he served as the head coach at NCAA Division II Ferris State. There he inherited a 3-13-3 team in his first season, and helped lead the Bulldogs to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) tournament in each of his first three years from 2010-12.
LEADING LADIES: Returning from last year's squad are three standout performers. Senior Abby Bohanski, and Junior's Courtney Wiencek and Alyssa Reynolds all made a big impact on the Warrior's success last season. Bohanski led the team in goals (8) while Wiencek and Reynolds both had four apiece. Reynolds' flourished throughout the season as she was the go-to threat off the bench. These three look to lead Winona State back to the top of the NSIC in 2018.
COMEBACK KID:Senior goalkeeper Jourdan Valkner is back between the pipes after missing the 2017 season due to injury. In 2016, Valkner collected a 5-4-1 record with a .833 saves percentage, sharing the goalkeeper duties with Rachel Olson. Already this season, Valkner has made a few key stops for the Warriors, helping lift Winona State to a 2-0 victory over Upper Iowa on Thursday.
PRESEASON POLL:The Warriors were picked to finish eighth in the Norther Sun Intercollegiate Conference this season. Winona State finished last season in the seventh spot in the conference, concluding their season with a tough loss to Bemidji State in the first round of the conference tournament. Picked to finish atop the list is Minnesota State, followed by Bemidji State and Augustana (S.D.) rounding out the top three.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH:The Huskies will have three games under their belt when they take the field against the Warriors on Sunday. In the first two, Michigan Tech has one win and one tie to their credit. On a balanced team who likes to score, Freshman Gabby Sgambati has been the opportunistic one, scoring two of the Huskies four goals this season. Michigan Tech seems to be a second half team, scoring all four of their goals in the second half.
