WINONA, Minn. – The Winona State University women's soccer team hosted Augustana University in their final home match of the 2021 season, a contest that treated fans to seven goals combined between the two teams, with Winona State coming up just short in a 4-3 loss to the Vikings.

The Warriors (4-11-1, 3-10-1 NSIC) honored eight seniors prior to their match against the Vikings (12-3-2, 11-1-2 NSIC), with Skyla Atkins, Camryn Cadiz, Missy Greco, Riley Harmon, Jamie Kwon, Ella Roberts, Kara Schramel, and goalkeeper Yanel Ortiz each highlighted by head coach Matt Kellogg. Starting in goal, Ortiz was tasked with backstopping her team against Augustana, a program in the midst of an eight-game winning streak.

Augustana got on the board first, when Morgan Keirstead knocked home a Carlie Kray assist, after a ball played in from the right flank by the Vikings made its way through the penalty area in the 19^th minute.  The Warrior response was almost immediate as Katie Timmons scored just 30 seconds later to tie the game at 1-1; the goal was Timmons' first of the season and a key momentum boost at that stage of the match.

The scoring outburst was just getting started however, as AU answered with their second goal of the first half when Alexis Legg scored in the 24^th minute; the Vikings' first goal scorer Keirstead was credited with the assist on the play. Winona State continued to press with Timmons and Ella Roberts both coming close to scoring in the 28^th and 33^rd minute respectively.

The Warrior pressure was rewarded when Emily Chudik scored one of the best Winona State goals of the year, taking a feed from teammate Riley Harmon and driving a long-range effort past Viking goalkeeper Jillian Barkus. For Chudik, the tally was her third goal of the season, second highest on the squad.

However, the Vikings would strike back with a response of their own - again through Legg - who scored on a corner kick, driving a header off the bottom of the crossbar and into the Warrior goal.  Then, as time wound down, Augustana would add a fourth goal when Legg found the back of net for her Viking hat trick with just five seconds remaining in the half.  

After the break, the Warriors came out of the locker room on the hunt for goals and earned a pair of corner kicks early in the second half, the first of which forced a good reflex save from Barkus. With 30 minutes left to go in the game, a pair of Winona State forwards pressured an AU defender, forcing a turnover and resulting in an own goal, when the Vikings misplayed a back pass to their goalkeeper that instead went into their net. 

With the score at 4-3 in favor of Augustana, the Warriors continued to attack the Viking backline, resulting in scoring chances for Skyla Atkins and Ella Roberts.  Shortly thereafter, one of the key moments of the match came with Augustana on the attack, when Sylvia Fehr forced an amazing save at full-stretch from Ortiz, who pushed the effort onto the crossbar. The resulting rebound looked destined for the back of the Warrior goal as AU's Ellie Schock lined up the loose ball, but Ortiz scrambled to make a second great save on the play, eliminating the Viking opportunity.

The final ten minutes was contested in midfield, with neither team finding space to create a final goal for their side, resulting in a 4-3 setback for Winona State.  Augustana had 13 shots, putting eight on goal, in the game while Winona State had 11 shots, six on frame.  AU earned 10 corners, while WSU had three. Both goalkeepers collected four saves in the match. 

The Warriors will conclude the 2021 campaign when they travel to Upper Iowa University on Friday, Nov. 5. Kickoff in Fayette is set for 2:30pm. 

For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.

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About Winona State University Athletics: 

The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.  

Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).  Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.