Laura Anderson / Winonan

The Winona State University women’s soccer team played their final home game of the 2016 season on Friday and lost to Minnesota State University Mankato 0-3. On Sunday, the Warriors traveled to Concordia University St. Paul and won the final season game 3-2.

The Warriors were a young team this season and despite the loss, coach Ali Omar said, “The one positive that came out of this season is the fact that our young players gained actual game experience”.

Senior Meg Riebau and sophomore Abby Bohanski were the only two Warriors who experienced opportunities to score. The Warriors had two shots and one shot on goal. Winona State did not pick up any corner kick chances in the game.

Warrior goalkeeper junior Rachel Oleson allowed three goals while having six stops, which moved her 2-5 for the season.

The loss on Friday evening eliminated the Warriors from the NSIC Tournament. Omar said that the team will not be going to the tournament this season and their only focus was on the final season game against Concordia St. Paul and continue to work together as a team.

In Sunday afternoon’s win, sophomore Darian Molter, junior Mikaella Sabinash and Riebau, all contributed with goals to give the Warriors (8-9-1, 5-9-1 NSIC) a 3-2 victory to end their season.

The Warriors had 16 shots and eight shots on goal. Oleson saved five goals.

Molter scored the first goal of the game with an assist from Bohanski. Molter had three goals for the season. The second goal for the Warriors was scored by Sabinash and assisted by first-year forward Courtney Wiencek. This goal was Sabinash’s first of the season. Wiencek assisted the third goal made by Riebau, which was her sixth goal for the season.

Next year, the Winona State women’s soccer team will focus on turning 2016 losses into fall 2017 wins.

-By Laura Anderson