KEARNEY, Neb. - The Winona State University women's soccer team scored early and scored often in their 2022 season opener at the University of Nebraska Kearney, earning a shutout victory over UNK 3-0. 

Winona State goalkeeper Chloe Swanson earned the clean sheet in goal turning aside all four Lopers shots in the game, while Reanne Weil notched what would prove to be the game winning goal in the 21st minute of play. Not long after Weil - one of three WSU captains named prior to the season -  found the back of the net, Warrior teammates Jaida Wiege and Abigail Williams both scored in the span of less than a minute later in the first half to put WSU well on their way to the season-opening win. 

From the half-hour mark forward neither team was able to score, although Winona State maintained pressure on Nebraska Kearney throughout the match. Winona State earned ten corners in the game - five in each half - compared to just three for the hosts. WSU out-shot UNK overall, 6-4. 

The contest marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs and the shutout win is the first for WSU in a season opener since 2018, when Winona State held Upper Iowa scoreless in a 2-0 Warrior win.

Head coach Matt Kellogg and Winona State (1-0-0 / 0-0-0 NSIC) will look to double up their 2022 win total on Sunday when they face East Central University at 11 am in Kearney, Neb.  ECU (0-0-1) held Southwest Minnesota State to a 2-2 tie on Friday in a match also played at Ron and Carol Cope Stadium at Foster Field in Kearney.