WINONA, Minn. - It all comes down to this.
The Winona State University women's soccer team will host Upper Iowa University in their final 2022 regular season match, with the Warriors kicking off against the Peacocks on Thursday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. on Maxwell Field in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
Heading into match, WSU sits in ninth place in the NSIC standings with 22 points in Conference play, just one point behind eighth-place Northern State University at 23. The top eight finishing teams will qualify for the NSIC postseason, and with all 16 teams playing on Thursday afternoon, several playoff scenarios surround the Warriors.
Four teams have already qualified for the NSIC Tournament, while five teams, including Winona State, will battle on Thursday for the remaining four spots.
One thing for certain is that a Warrior win - and with it three valuable points in the standings - is the most important ingredient in any postseason potluck available to Winona State. And, with seven other contests taking place around the league Thursday afternoon and evening, Warrior soccer fans will likely have one eye on the Warriors and the other on the NSIC scoreboard.
WSU is 8-5-4 overall and 6-4-4 in NSIC play, while Upper Iowa - already eliminated from postseason play - comes in at 2-11-4 overall and 1-9-4 in the league. Winona State will be looking to end a two-year skid of 1-0 losses to the Peacocks; the most recent Warrior win over UIU was a 2-0 victory in Fayette in 2018.
GAME & FAN INFORMATION
- Live stats and live video are available at the links above & on the WSU Soccer schedule page.
- Thursday's contest will take place on Maxwell Field in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
- Ticket information is available on the WSU Soccer schedule page.
WINONA STATE STORYLINES
- Senior Riley Harmon leads Winona State in goals (6) and points (13), while Jaida Wiege is second on the squad with five goals.
- Chloe Swanson is 7-4-3 on the year in the Warrior goal and fellow goalkeeper Alyson Jumper is 1-1-1 in three starts.
- WSU has earned six shutouts already this season, including a 2-0 blanking of Wayne State in the most recent Warrior home game.
- Sarah Strating and Ellie Wardell are tied for the team lead in assists with three apiece.
- WSU has three captains this season: Reanne Weil, Riley Harmon and Bailey Deininger
- Winona State fired off a season-high 36 shots against Minnesota - Crookston.
- Field players Bailey Deininger, Callie Menzel have eclipsed the 1,400 minute mark with 1,457 and 1,416 respectively.
- Hannah Dunlavy and Reanne Weil both have supassed 1,200 on the field; Dunlavy has 1,337 and Weil 1,292.
- Jaida Wiege leads Winona State in game-winning tallies this season with two.
Upper Iowa STORYLINES
- Upper Iowa is 2-11-4 on the season and 1-9-4 in the NSIC.
- The Peacocks are in 14th place in the league and eliminated from the postseason.
- Four UIU players have two goals each; Rachyl Benavides, Katie Samuels, Haley Ramberg and Jordan Zarate.
- Isabelle Wagner leads UIU in minutes played as a goalkeeper with 1007:48
- Josh Davis is in his first season at Upper Iowa.
WARRIOR NOTABLES
- As a team, Winona State has scored 25 goals this year while conceding just 16.
- WSU has generated 207 shots and opponents have generated 157.
- Winona State has scored three or more goals five times this year.
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.
