Kylie Bridenhagen/ Winonan

After finishing their regular season 15-4-3 overall, 13-2-0 in conference play and second overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Winona State University’s women’s soccer team is looking to return to the 2014 season in the hopes of contending for the NSIC title.

In the 2014 NSIC Preseason Coach’s Poll, Winona State was chosen third overall with 204 points, two points behind Minnesota Duluth (206) and ten behind the top-placed team, Minnesota State Mankato (214).

Senior Alaina Kne is returning for her final season as a Warrior alongside teammates Shauna Rodman, Cailyn McCauley and Taylor Zehren, all of whom are going to provide senior leadership for the rest of the team made up of nine returning juniors, five sophomores and nine new signees starting their freshman season playing in the purple and white.

To move up in the rankings as the season begins, Kne said the team needs to score more overall and win more of their regional games.

“This year we need to come out and dominate our first region games, because those mean a lot at the end of the season rankings,” Kne said. “We also want to score more and not have as many close games as we did last year.”

Kne said the team has hopes to win the national title, but also is aiming to score a certain number of goals as a team in a single season.

“As a team we have set the goal to win a national championship, but we have other goals to reach such as winning the conference tournament, scoring over 60 goals and not giving up more than 7 goals defensively,” Kne said.

She also said she hopes to contribute to the team in any way she can and to be an effective leader throughout the season.

Last season, Kne led the Warriors with the highest number of individual goals scored (5) and assists (8). While playing against Augustana last year, she posted four assists in a single game, a NSIC Tournament record. She played in all 22 games, with 19 starts. Kne also received All-Region honors (2013 2nd Team NSCAA and 2013 2nd Team Daktronics), All-NSIC 2013 Third Team and also earned NSIC All-Academic honors.

In 2013, Rodman scored four goals and posted three assists. In both of Winona State’s NSIC Tournament games, she scored one goal. She earned NSIC All-Academic honors last year.

As a junior, McCauley played in 15 of the Warriors’ games, with six shots in the season, two of those on goal. McCauley also earned NSIC All-Academic honors last season.

Last year Zehren scored twice in her 18 appearances with one of those goals posted during the NSIC Tournament game against Augustana. She also earned NSIC All-Academic honors during her junior year.

Along with the seasoned veterans of the team, the NSIC chose junior Mehan Bolton as the Warriors offensive player to keep an eye on.

In Bolton’s sophomore season, she scored three goals and had two assists. She played in all 22 games, while starting in 14. She had 29 shots on the year, with 16 of those being on goal.

On the defensive side, the NSIC picked junior Madalyn Jansen. In the 2013 season, she started each of the Warriors’ 22 games. She had five shots, with three on goal. Jansen also earned NSIC All-Academic honors in 2013.

So far this 2014 season, Winona State has played in two scrimmages, one against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and the other against Luther.

Kne said she and the team are glad to be back and playing together.

“Practice and preseason have been going well, we’re all excited to be back with the team working toward having a great season. We have been working hard as a team everyday to connect with each other and get our system down,” Kne said. “We’ve had two scrimmages against Eau Claire and Luther so far. We did well but still have some things to work out before our first games.”

The Warriors nabbed No. 23 in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II preseason national rankings.

Southwest Minnesota State is two spots ahead, ranked No. 21. Minnesota State is ranked No. 15 and Minnesota Duluth is ranked No. 8

Winona State will start their regular season play on Sept. 5 with the Warriors traveling to Houghton, Min. to take on Michigan Tech.

On Sept. 7, they will match up against Northern Michigan in their second game of the season in Marquette, Mich.

The Warriors first home game will take place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 at Warrior Stadium.