Winona State Women’s Soccer team lost to Minnesota State University, Moorhead 1-0 this Friday, Sept. 27. Apart of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Warriors played an outstanding second half but could not manage to score a goal.
The match was between two defensive specialist teams. Minnesota Moorhead attempted to use their off-side trap, which proved to be effective against the Warriors as they managed to get an offside within the fifth minute.
There were also a few small attacking plays from both sides but none of them were successful. However, some turned into corner kicks for both sides.
Some rough play was also seen by both teams as they focused on their defensive play. Five fouls were gained amongst both teams in the first half. A yellow card was shown to Minnesota Moorhead player Karly Walker.
While these defensive plays were on, Blayke Hurley of Minnesota Moorhead scored an unexpected goal that would prove to be crucial to the match later on. This made Minnesota Moorehead more defensive as they knew that this notch on the scoreboard could be the only one of the match.
The second half began with five substitute players from the Warrior’s side and three from Minnesota Moorhead. This half displayed a new style of gameplay from the Warriors.
“I think whenever we get fresh legs out there. We are really working together. We definitely need to communicate more,” Johanna Shubert of Winona State said. “In the second half, you could really see how we were building up as a unit, and not just playing individually.”
The Warriors were desperate to get a goal at any cost, even charging the opposition players from their penalty box. They moved in close to get the goal multiple times but it was simply not their day.
Still, Winona State made several attempts at a goal, achieving seven corners in this half. While none of them were successful, their hard work kept the energy and their determination high.
The Warriors took nine shots in the second half, with five of those shots being on target. There were always more than two defenders in front of the Minnesota Moorhead goalpost, which ensured that the Warriors could not get a goal.
The second half of this match got the Warriors back to their potential and style of gameplay. All their players seemed confident after the game, which will give the team a boost in the rest of the matches in NSIC.
New left back of the Warriors Adrianna Bixby said that she and her teammates will maintain the energy that they brought in the second half as a preparation for the next match.
“We are hoping to get to a point, ideally it’s the second half,” Warrior assistant coach Matthew Cross said. “Next match both halves will look like the second half, and if we give up goals, that’s cool but at least we can learn from it.”
Seemingly adopting this mindset, the Warriors found a win on their home field against Northern State University just two days later with two goals from Kyleigh Jannisch and Cathryn Hudak.
Next week the Warriors have two away matches, one against Bemidji State University on Friday, Oct. 4. And the other on Oct. 6 against the University of Minnesota, Crookston.
