MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Winona State University soccer team faced off against MSU Moorhead on Sunday, Sept. 24 with the intent to earn three points on the road in NSIC play. When the dust settled on Nemzek Soccer Field, the Warriors and Dragons played to their first-ever draw in series history, stalemated at 2-2.
Against the Dragons, Winona State was able to score first but saw the home side tie the game and then take a 2-1 lead in the first half.
Abigail Williams scored a penalty kick for Winona State shortly after the start of the second half, knotting the game at 2-2.
KEY DETAILS:
Final Score - Winona State 2, MSU Moorhead, 2
Attendance: 93
HOW IT HAPPENED:
'The first 20 minutes of the match saw an intense level of action befitting a pair of teams looking for an NSIC victory. WSU earned a corner kick less than four minutes into the match in what would be a sign of things to come in the contest.
At the 4:26 mark of the first 45,
Madelynn Drasher rattled the Dragon crossbar with the first Winona State effort on frame. Moments later,
Johanna Shubert scored for WSU, beating MSU Moorhead goalkeeper Simone Lewald to her left.
Winona State continued to pressure the Dragons penalty area, racking up a significant shot advantage.
WSU earned an opportunity to double the Warrior advantage when awarded a penalty kick in the 12th minute. However, MSU Moorhead's Lewald stymied the Winona State effort from the spot, leaving the score at 1-0 Warriors.
Buoyed by the PK stop, MSU Moorhead would rack up their first shot on goal of the game, when Jensen Seidel forced a save from Winona State goalkeeper
Alyson Jumper at 12:28 in the first half. A short time later, the Dragons would beat Jumper with the second effort on frame two minutes later, drawing the game level at 1-1 on a goal from Madeline Etter. The Dragon's Ava Kieser was credited with the assist.
The Winona State offense returned to their collective front foot, as
Julia Kunz,
Madyson Dye,
Reanne Weil, and
Sara Charboneau all registered shots around both sides of the 30 minute mark.
Against the run of play, MSU Moorhead earned a corner kick in the 33rd minute and, after a save by Jumper against MSUM's Mason Kimble, the Dragons scored their second goal of the game on an effort by Ally Peters, taking a 2-1 lead.
Across the opening half, WSU racked up 13 shots while the counterattacking Dragons put six attempts towards the Warrior goal.
At the Half: MSU Moorhead 2, Winona State 1
In the final 45, WSU again opened in an attacking posture and earned an early opportunity when
Reanne Weil was fouled in the Dragon penalty area, granting Winona State their second penalty kick of the contest.
Abigail Williams converted the penalty for Winona State, sending MSUM's Lewald the wrong way and side-footed her 12-yard effort to tie the game, 2-2.
WSU continued to press for the go-ahead goal throughout the second half, with several efforts high or wide of the Dragon goal. Lewald was called to action at a key moment of the match when
Reanne Weil got behind the MSUM defense but saw Lewald come off her line to smoother the breakaway opportunity.
The final 15 minutes saw referee Matt Von Pinnon reach into his book for a pair yellow cards, both issued to Winona State. The Warriors, who were fouled 12 times in the match while committing seven fouls as a team, continued to press.
Madison Watts created a strong scoring chance for Winona State will 11 minutes to go, outracing Lewald to loose ball in the Dragons penalty area. Watts delivered a cross from the endline but her effort was just out of reach of a pair of onrushing Warriors.
As time wound down,
Alyson Jumper made a pair of key saves under five minutes to go to ultimately preserve a point for Winona State.
First, following a Dragon flip throw that put a MSUM attacker on the back post in a dangerous position, the junior goalkeeper left her line to collect the pass just in front of the Dragon forward. Then, with under a minute to play, MSUM's Izabela Flores was in alone on a breakaway following a long clearance of a WSU corner kick. Jumper left her line and made a sliding breakaway save in a heavy collision with the Dragon striker, preserving the tie for the visitors.
The final whistle followed shortly after Jumper's big play, leaving Winona State and Minnesota State Moorhead at 2-2 and sharing the NSIC points.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE:
With the Sunday split of the points, Winona State moved to 1-3-3 overall and 0-2-2 in NSIC play.
WSU moves to 14-1-1 all-time against MSU Moorhead.
In earning two penalty kicks against MSUM, Winona State had two spot kicks in the same match for the first time since Sep. 16, 2018 when WSU had two PK's against Upper Iowa.
After over three weeks on the road, Winona State will play at home for the first time on Friday, Sept. 29 vs. Minnesota Crookston.
WINONA STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
Shots (on goal):
Reanne Weil 4 (1),
Johanna Shubert 5 (3),
Abigail Williams 4 (2).
Goals:
Abigail Williams 1,
Johanna Shubert 1.
Saves:
Alyson Jumper 3 saves, 2 GA.
90 Minute Warriors:
Alyson Jumper (GK),
Madyson Dye,
Reanne Weil,
Callie Menzel,
Hannah Dunlavy,
Madelynn Drasher.
MSU Moorhead TOP PERFORMERS
Madeline Etter (Mid): 1 goal
Mason Kimble (Def): 1 goal
Simone Lewald (GK): 7 saves, 2 GA
UP NEXT:
Winona State (1-3-3, 1-2-2 NSIC) will host Minnesota Crookston (0-7-0) in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday, Sep. 29. Kickoff between the Warriors and Golden Eagles is set for 5 p.m.
