FAYETTE, Iowa - The Winona State University women's soccer team saw freshman
Chloe Turner score in her Warrior debut to cut a two-goal deficit in half but WSU was unable to further dent a McKendree University defense in a 2-1 season opening loss to the Bearcats.
Playing on neutral-site turf in Harm-Eischeid Stadium at Upper Iowa University, WSU gave McKendree a run for their money in the late stages of the match in an effort to tie the game.
Madisson Watts forced a point-blank save from Bearcat's goalkeeper Abby Tucker with under eight minutes to go, a stop that denied Winona State head coach
Jill Leibforth's team a deserved equalizer.
KEY DETAILS:
Final Score - McKendree University 2 - 1 Winona State
Attendance: 38
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Warriors fell behind 1-0 in the first half when the GLVC Offensive Player of the Year, Anna Stiffler, netted the opening goal of the match in the 28th minute.
Stiffler, coming off a 30-point and 14-goal year last season - struck again five minutes later, extending the Bearcats lead to 2-0 with just over ten minutes remaining in the half.
Winona State freshman
Chloe Turner, in her first career contest at Winona State, latched onto a long WSU free kick into the Bearcat penalty area and calmly slotted her finish past an onrushing Abby Tucker to cut the Warrior deficit in half.
After the break, Winona State battled back to reel off four shots, forcing three McKendree goalkeeper saves, but could not find the equalizer.
WSU's best chance to draw level came in the final eight minutes with Maddison Watts forcing Tucker into a quick reaction save at the near post.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
With the loss, Winona State moved to 0-1 on the season and in the all-time series against the Bearcats; Friday's match marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
Winona State head coach
Jill Leibforth made her full debut as the head coach at WSU, having had the interim tag removed last spring. Leibforth is the fourth head coach in program history.
McKendree's Tim Strange opened up his 25th season leading the Bearcats on Friday vs. the Warriors.
WINONA STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Goalkeeper Saves:
Alyson Jumper, 6
Shots on Goal:
Johanna Shubert, 2
Goals:
Chloe Turner, 1, 38th minute
MCKENDREE TOP PERFORMERS
Anna Stiffler (Fwd): 2 Goals, 7 shots
Abby Tucker (GK): 4 Goals, 1 GA
Morgan Bova, Katie Spotanski, 1 Assist
UP NEXT:
Winona State (0-1, 0-0 NSIC) returns to Fayette, Iowa on Sunday, Sept. 3 to take on Upper Iowa University at Noon.
