WINONA, Minn. – With less than a month remaining in the regular season, Winona State University will travel North for its final doubleheader weekend on the road this year. The Warriors begin the trip on Friday evening at Minnesota Duluth and wrap up on Sunday afternoon at St. Cloud State.
Following this weekend, four of the Warriors' remaining five games will be played at home with the lone exception of a day trip to Sioux Falls on November 3rd. Including this weekend, four of Winona State's next seven opponents have records under .500.
The Warriors (4-7, 3-5 NSIC) are currently on the outside, looking in at the conference playoff picture. Winona State will look to pick up some valuable wins over the final three weeks to secure a spot in the NSIC Tournament.
Georgette Topalis continues to lead the team in goals (4) and total points (8). Courtney Wiencek is the team leader in assists (3) while ranking second in goals (2) and points (7). Nine other Warriors have at least one goal this season, including a quartet of freshman, as Winona State continues to showcase its young talent.
Sophomore Yanel Ortiz has started all 11 games in goal for WSU and recorded 54 saves while posting a pair of shutouts. She owns a .730 save percentage and ranks fifth in the NSIC in total saves.
Scouting Duluth
The Bulldogs (4-6-1, 2-5-1 NSIC) have one win in their last seven outings. Duluth tied MSU Moorhead last time out, 1-1, and recorded a 2-0 win at Northern State last Friday. The Bulldogs and Warriors have the same amount of goals scored this season (15). Defensively, Duluth has allowed just 13 goals compared to 20 by WSU.
Emily Hinz has recorded nearly half the Bulldog goals (6) and ranks fourth in the NSIC in total points (13). Nan Glinsek is the team leader in assists (3). In goal, Sophia Grenz has tallied 51 saves while posting two shutouts.
Winona State leads the all-time series, 18-12-2, and has won five of the last six meetings.
Scouting St. Cloud
The Huskies (4-3-3, 3-2-2 NSIC) host Upper Iowa on Friday prior to Sunday's tilt with WSU. St. Cloud also pitched a shutout against Northern State in its last contest, 4-0. Over their last seven games, the Huskies have allowed just four goals and have a 3-2-2 record to show for their defensive effort. In total, SCSU has yielded just eight goals this season.
Claire Shea (4) and Tatyana Gusakow (3) have accounted for more than half of the Huskies' 12 goals this year. Shea has also recorded two assists and leads the team in points (10). Zoe Welsh has been solid in goal, recording 49 saves and posting four shutouts. Her .733 goals against average ranks sixth in the NSIC.
Winona State leads the all-time series, 20-4-2, including three wins in the last four outings. Each of the past five contests between the Warriors and Huskies have been decided by a 1-0 score.
