Reagan Johnson/Winonan
The Winona State University soccer team earned a victory and a tie on the road last weekend, defeating the University of Sioux Falls 1-0 Saturday and tying with Southwest Minnesota State on a scoreless Sunday.
Warrior head coach Ali Omar said the game was not up to the team’s usual pace.
“We’re used to high energy games. (Sioux Falls) played very defensively and didn’t really attack. They played a very indirect, slow paced game,” Omar said.
Playing against Sioux Falls, the Warriors and the Cougars found themselves scoreless at halftime. In the 53rd minute the Warriors made their first and only goal when Nicole Sames made a pass to Kati Baker in the box. Baker then found the net and scored her fourth goal of the season — a goal that ended up being the game winner for the Warriors.
The Warriors led the game offensively with a total of 24 shots compared to eight by the Mustangs. Winona State posted 11 of their shots on goal while Sioux Falls made five.
Leading the Warriors in shots was junior Mehan Bolton who had six total shots, four of those on goal. Baker recorded four shots, two of which were on goal. Hannah Burt also had four shots with one on goal.
Rachel Oleson made five saves in the game, notching her seventh shutout.
“I wasn’t worried about them coming close to our goal. We got what we needed: one goal and we moved on,” Omar said.
“We basically dominated the whole game we just couldn’t finish,” senior defender Kelsey Foss said. “We had so many chances in the first half, especially, and we were playing great defense, but we did get a goal so we ended up coming out on top.”
On Sunday the Warriors headed to Marshall to match up against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs and left with a scoreless, double-overtime tie.
Winona State led the game in shots with 13, while limiting the Beavers to six.
By the end of the second half neither team had scored, forcing them to go into overtime. After the 10-minute extra period, no goals sent the game into double overtime where it was scoreless again and ended in a tie.
The tie moved the Warriors into fourth place in the NSIC. Winona State sits behind Minnesota State, Augustana and Minot State.
Bolton led in shots again with a total of four with three on goal. Chase Rehm had three shots and Abby Bohanski added one of her two shots on goal. Kirsten Windbiel also recorded one shot on goal.
Foss said the wind was a factor in Sunday’s tie.
“The wind was crazy. We had so many shots that went right over the goal,” Foss said. “Southwest packed their defense into the box so every time we would shoot it would hit legs or go straight to the goal keeper.”
Omar added, “We had a few close opportunities (on Sunday) that we just couldn’t finish. It was very windy and it played the ball funny so it was hard to control. It’s one of those deals where you’re on the road so have to expect that anything can happen and deal with it.”
Omar explained the team takes pride in their defense.
“It’s what we do, we like to play defense,” Omar said. “If you don’t allow a team to score, you win games.”
Omar credits the defensive play to leadership from the upperclass players.
“The whole backline in general has been pretty solid with seniors like Kelsey Foss. She’s been absolutely steady for me as well as junior Kenzie Rose. I can’t ask for more from them,” Omar said.
Winona State (10-3, 7-3-1 NSIC) returns home for three of its final four regular season games, beginning Saturday as they host Bemidji State at the Altra Federal Credit Union Stadium at 1 p.m.
Foss said the upcoming games are filled with extra support since it is senior night. She added the team feels confident about the rest of the season as the Warriors head toward the conference tournament.
“I’m feeling very optimistic about conference because have the talent and we have the potential,” Foss said. “We’ve gotten a lot closer as a team. We all just have show up and be on our game at the same time. I know all of us are really looking forward to the conference tournament.”
