Kylie Bridenhagen/ Winonan

The Winona State University’s women’s soccer team, the No. 3 seed in the NSIC, started its quest to play in the NSIC/US Bank Soccer Tournament championship game on Wednesday, Nov. 5 with a 1-0 win over Southwest Minnesota State University. The Warriors advanced on to the next round game against the University of Minnesota Duluth. Where the game resulted with a 2-0 over the Bulldogs.

These two wins secured the Warriors a spot in the NSIC/US Bank Soccer Tournament championship game on Sunday against the No.1 NSIC seed and top-ranked Division II team in the country, the University of Minnesota, Mankato.

Winona State’s first win of the tournament occurred at home at Warrior Stadium with a 1-0 shutout against Southwest Minnesota, Winona State’s tenth shutout victory on the year. The Warriors would only need one goal to surpass the Mustangs and advance them on in the tournament.

Junior midfielder Kati Baker scored the lone goal in the match’s 20th minute of play—and her first of the season, coming off a pair of assists from senior forward Taylor Zehren and sophomore defender Kelsey Foss.

The Warriors totaled 17 shots during the game, with nine of those being on goal.

Sophomore defender Kenzie Rose had the team-high four shots, with three counting on goal. Baker was right behind her with three total shots and her one goal. Junior midfielder Nicole Sames and Zehren each contributed two shots to the team, with one of Zehren’s shots being on goal.

Cailyn McCauley, Darian Molter, Hannah Burt, Meg Riebau, Shauna Rodman and Elizabeth Fritz each had one shot in the game.

Warrior goalkeeper Rachel Oleson recorded her tenth shutout of the season after saving all seven of the Mustangs’ attempted shots on goal.

Southwest Minnesota had 12 shots in the game with seven on goal. Kendahl Fisher had a game-high five individual shots, with one of those being on target.

Mustang goalkeeper Brenna Dehkes made eight saves while allowing one Warrior goal.

In the Warrior’s second NSIC championship series game against Minnesota Duluth, they posted their 11th shutout victory on the year with Baker scoring her third goal in two games.

Winona State was on the scoreboard first less than three minutes into the games’ initial start, with Baker’s first goal off an assist from Devon Richards.

Baker added an unassisted insurance goal late in the 86th minute to give the Warriors their second win of the tournament.

Winona State recorded 13 total shots as a team with four of those being on target.

Zehren had a game-high four shots individually, while Baker, Sames and Burt each had two.

Alaina Kne, Molter and Riebau each had one shot apiece.

Oleson secured her 11th shutout of the season as she allowed no goals to pass through her possession.

On the Mustangs side, they managed five total shots with one on goal. Megan Helberg led Minnesota Duluth with two shots, one of those on goal. Marissa Ganske, Jennifer Smith and Sheridan Reiners each had one shot separately.

With a 2-0 record, the Warriors headed to Mankato, Minn. to take on the undefeated Mavericks at home.

The championship game of the NSIC tournament would result in a Mankato shutout win 1-0 over Winona State.

Winona State goalkeeper Oleson was kept busy throughout making a season-high nine saves in a single game.

Maverick’s defender Sidni Trotter scored her first goal of the season and the only one of the match in the 23rd minute off of a corner kick to give Mankato its 21st straight win of the season.

Mankato out shot the Warriors 27 to eight. Winona State managed to have three of those shots on goal.

Molter had a team-high four shots with one on goal, while Holly Berling, Burt, Sames and Kne each contributed one shot.

Maverick’s Korey Kronforst had a game-high seven individual shots with two on target. Jenny Hoerter and Emily Moris each added three shots apiece.

With a 15-5-1 overall season record, Winona State won an at-large bid into the NCAA Central Region Tournament for its second straight year and sixth time in program history.

The Warriors have been dealt the No. 5 seed and will face-off against the No. 4 ranked Southwest Baptist University Bearcats in first round play for the second straight season.

Game time is set for 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 14 in Mankato, Minn. The winner of this first round game will advance on to play the undefeated, No.1 ranked Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16 in Mankato.

The winner of this game will advance on to the NCAA Super Regional Championship (TBD).