The Winona State University Warriors currently sit in a tie for eighth place in the NSIC standings and are looking to lock up a tournament berth with some big wins down the stretch. WSU hosts UMary on Friday night at 6 p.m. and concludes the homestand on Sunday with Minot State at 12 p.m.
The Warriors have lost three of their last four games but have played close matches in each, including a pair of losses by just one goal. Winning this weekend against a quality University of Mary side and a historically good Minot State team would bring the Warriors closer to clinching their ninth tournament berth in the last 10 years and third straight.
Notes
SEASON 25: The 2019 campaign marks Winona State's 25th season of Warrior women's soccer. WSU entered this year with an all-time record of 325-126-31 and has reached the postseason in 21 of its 24 previous seasons. The Warriors have advanced to the NCAA Regional seven times.
SCOUTING UMARY: The Marauders (7-2-2) have won three straight and have outscored their opponents in those games, 11-0. The Marauders (5-2-2 NSIC) currently sit at fifth in the conference and are looking to return to the postseason after their falling in the NSIC Tournament semifinal last year. UMary is led in the back by one of the best goalies in the nation in Madisyn Waltman. Waltman currently is second in the country in both save percentage (.943) and goals against average (.258) as she has only allowed three goals all season. Junior forward Hannah Richter leads the team in total points as she has four goals and three assists to her credit. Senior defender Malia Brudvik currently sits in a tie for fifth in the conference in assists (5). UMary has won two of the last three matchups against WSU.
SCOUTING MINOT STATE: The Beavers (3-9) are looking to continue their recent success as they have won their previous two games over SMSU and Sioux Falls. The Beavers (3-6 NSIC) are sitting at 12th in the NSIC and are looking finish strong in order to clinch one of the last playoff spots. Minot's back line is led by senior goalkeeper Erin Rafferty, who is second in the conference in total saves (69) but has allowed a league-leading 23 goals on the season. Junior Sofia Lewis has been extremely hot recently as she has scored all five of her goals in the last three games. Junior Melanie Van Walstijn isn't a huge threat to score, but her crosses are very accurate as she leads the team in assists (3).
FINISH STRONG: The Warriors control their own destiny as three of their final five games are against teams that currently sit below Winona State in the NSIC standings. Their most important game, however, might be against SMSU next Friday. The Mustangs are currently tied with the Warriors for the last playoff spot and a win in a tiebreaking game like that could spell a postseason berth for the Warriors. Winona State also plays four of its final five games at home.
BALANCED DIET: Winona State has scored 18 goals this season by way of 11 different people. Georgette Topalis is the only Warrior to score more than two goals this year (5). Courtney Wiencek, Ellie Wardell and Jaida Wiege have each netted a pair of goals while seven other players have recorded one. The Warriors' scoring balance has kept theme unpredictable on the year and has led them to be sixth in the NSIC in total goals scored.
BREAKING INTO THE RECORD BOOK: Sophomore goalie Yanel Ortiz already made it into the record book once this season with her 16-save performance against Minnesota State (single-game record), but she is continuing to make a name for herself as she now sits at 10th on the all-time Winona State saves list (83). Ortiz currently has 65 saves on the season, which is just 12 off the 10th spot for saves in a season by a Winona State goalie. If Ortiz keeps this up, she will rewrite the record books by the end of her career.
