WINONA, Minn. - The Winona State University soccer team scored early - and eventually scored often - in a 4-0 shutout win over the University of Minnesota Crookston in the 2023 home opener in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium on Friday, Sep. 29.
Winona State (2-3-3, 1-2-2 NSIC) saw
Quinn Williams head home a
Reanne Weil corner kick in the ninth minute to take a 1-0 lead over Minnesota Crookston (0-8-0, 0-4-0 NSIC), putting WSU on the front foot early on in their first home match of the 2023 campaign. Although UMC would hold WSU at bay for the rest of the first half, head coach
Jill Leibforth's team used a three-goal second half to pull away from the Golden Eagles and claim an important three points in the NSIC standings.
Back-to-back goals by
Johanna Shubert in the second half gave Winona State some breathing room in the final 45 minutes and
Reanne Weil calmly put an exclamation point on the Warrior win with the game's fourth tally just past the 70 minute mark to cap off a decidedly one-sided statistical affair for Winona State.
KEY DETAILS:
Final Score - Winona State 4, Minnesota Crookston 0
Attendance: 298
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Although Winona State would go on to dominate the match statistically, WSU's
Alyson Jumper had the first key save of the contest, making a point-blank stop on Minnesota Crookston's Kedin Geremiah in the third minute to maintain the 0-0 scoreline early on.
WSU would go on to earn a series of corner kicks near the ten minute mark, and eventually hit paydirt when
Reanne Weil's left footed service to the back post was met by a
Quinn Williams header to give the home side a 1-0 lead.
Winona State nearly doubled their advantage minutes later when
Reanne Weil met a well-placed cross in the Golden Eagles six-yard box, but saw her sliding effort hit the goalpost.
The Warriors would go on to dominate the first 45 minutes, racking up 14 first-half shots and 10 corners.
WSU forced UMC goalkeeper Abby Olson into five first-half saves, while sending several Warrior effort over or wide of the goal.
Winona State would finish the half with a 14-3 advantage in shots and 10-0 mark in corner kicks but headed to the locker room with a one goal lead.
AT THE HALF: Winona State 1, Minnesota Crookston 0
WSU wasted little time in re-establishing dominance in the final 45, with
Johanna Shubert scoring a goal in the 47th minute, a key goal at a key time in the match.
Shubert would add to Winona State's advantage - and her team-leading goal count - just over ten minutes later when she notched the game's third goal, thanks in part to a
Abigail Williams' assist
Winona State would test Minnesota Crookston keeper Abby Olsen several more times throughout the second half, forcing a pair of long-range saves on set pieces. Olsen also did well in dealing with a handful of dangerous crosses from the flanks, as Winona State sent in several dangerous balls from wide areas.
Reanne Weil scored the games final goal, first winning a 50-50 ball deep in the Warrior half and finding a Warrior option out wide. Three passes and 60 later, Weil calmly placed an effort past the outstretched hand of UMC's Olson to compete the Warrior offensive effort for the evening.
With under ten minutes to play, Winona State starting goalkeeper
Alyson Jumper yielded to
Anna Lundeen in goal, among of host of Warrior substitutes. Lundeen was pressed into action on late UMC free kick, making the save to preserve the WSU shutout.
Winona State would finish with an eye-popping statistical advantage; a 16-0 corner kick mark, 31-4 shot count, and - most importantly - a 4-0 final tally on the scoreboard.
BEYOND THE BOXSCORE
The Sep. 29 home opener is the latest Winona State has started their home slate in the history of the program.
WSU's 16-0 corner kick advantage is the largest margin ever for WSU in that stat category.
Winona State remains unbeaten against Minnesota Crookston, now sitting at 25-0-2 all-time vs. the Golden Eagles.
UP NEXT
Winona State will host Bemidji State on Sunday, Oct. 1. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium.
