Laura Anderson / Winonan
The Winona State University women’s soccer team began the regular season with two away games against Michigan Tech on Friday, Sept. 2, and Northern Michigan University on Sunday, Sept. 4.
“Starting the season on the road with a young team is exceptionally difficult but we feel good about the way they went about their business during camp and we look forward to seeing the team perform,” head coach Omar Ali said.
The first regular season game was on Friday, Sept. 2 at Michigan Tech in Houghton, Michigan The Warriors beat the Huskies 2-0.
“Opening the season at home is a bit more relaxed, familiar surrounding, people, obviously playing on your own field in front of your family and friends. Even though we have players’ families traveling to away games,” Ali said. “It is still someone else’s field but staying in a hotel, eating at restaurants, studying together during down time with your teammates brings closeness to the group. In a way it is less distracting but still away from home.”
Darian Molter, a sophomore from Marshfield, Wisc., and Courtney Wiencek, a first year student from Mequon, Wisc., scored the Warriors’ two goals.
The first goal of the game was Molter’s seventh goal of her career. Molter assisted Wieneck, who scored the first goal of her career.
The Warriors had 10 shots and seven shots on goal. Kenzie Rose, Meg Riebau, Wieneck and Molter all had shots. Taylor Richards, first year defensive player from San Diego, Cali., also had a shot on goal.
On Sunday, Sept. 4, the Warriors went overtime against Northern Michigan, which ended in a 3-2 victory for the Warriors.
There were 15 shots on goal, divided between Wiencek, Hayley Bach, Abby Bohanski, Alyssa Reynolds and Chase Rehm. Riebau had three shots on goal.
Reynolds scored the first goal off a rebound shot from sophomore Bohanski. The second goal was made by Rose and was assisted by Bohanski off a corner kick.
Riebau scored the overtime goal with a rebound shot off a block and kicked into the upper left corner of the net. Warrior goalkeeper Rachel Oleson had a total of ten saves for the two games.
The Warriors will travel to Fayette, Iowa to play the Upper Iowa Peacocks on Friday, Sept. 9.
