WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University women's soccer team scored first but could not hold off a St. Cloud State second half rally, falling 2-1 to the Huskies on Friday, Sept. 24.
Fans had just settled into their seats when Warrior
Emily Chudik scored on a
Missy Greco assist to put the home side up 1-0 in the second minute of play. Greco's feed to Chudik put the freshman midfielder in behind the SCSU defense and two touches later, Chudik had Winona State on the board.
For Chudik, the goal was her first tally of the season and Greco grabbed her second helper of the 2021 campaign. WSU had a pair of additional chances in the opening 20 minutes go just wide of the goal before the tide of the match began to turn.
SCSU began to press Winona State higher up the field as the first half wound down, forcing turnovers in dangerous areas. However, freshman goalkeeper
Alyson Jumper was spot on in the first half, making several saves on shots from distance as well as two point-blank stops on SCSU corners. Huskie forward Jenna Dominguez had two shots in the first half turned aside by Jumper, including a 15-yard effort the Warrior goalkeeper pushed onto the bar late in the first half.
After the break, St. Cloud State renewed their push for an equalizer, but the Warrior defensive midfield of
Kara Schramel and
Callie Menzel combined to keep the Huskies shooting from long range. For the efforts that made it through, Jumper was again on her game while the Warriors were on their collective back foot.
Unfortunately for Winona State, SCSU's Caire Shea put the visitors on the board with a 25-yard shot in the far corner, just barely beyond the outstretched hand of Jumper. Jenna Dominguez was credited with the assist on the goal.
After another series of counterattacks brought stellar saves from both Jumper and her keeper counterpart, Evie Kohn, SCSU stuck again, this time through Karlie Valdez. A ball across the penalty box by Nicole Friis found it's way to Valdez, who beat Jumper from close range in the 84th minute.
Facing the 2-1 deficit, Winona State forced a pair of saves late from Kohn. In a physical game, particularly in the second half, a lunging tackle late in the game on
Riley Harmon in the penalty drew calls for a PK from the Warrior crowd, but play was waved on. The Huskies committed nine fouls on the day, compared to three for Winona State.
SCSU had 19 shots on the afternoon, while the Warriors had 16; the Huskies tallied six corners, compared to two for the home side.
St. Cloud State improves to 1-3-1 overall, 1-1-1 NSIC, while Winona State falls to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in the NSIC. The Warriors will return to action on Sunday, Sept. 26 when they host the University of Minnesota Duluth. Kickoff between the Bulldogs and Winona State is set for 1pm on Maxwell Field at Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit:
www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and
@WinonaStateATH.
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.
