Dan Noth/Winonan

The Warriors defeated Minnesota-Duluth 2-0 on Saturday and St. Cloud State 1-0 on Sunday improving to 4-2 overall, and 3-0 in conference play.

Replacing a two-time All American is always a tricky situation, but Alexandra Vial has stepped into the role and embraced it.

“It is tough knowing that I have some big shoes to fill now that Anna (Belpedio) is gone,” said Vial. “But I am using what I learned the past two years from her and the coaching staff to help build on our success.”

The sophomore goalkeeper recorded her second and third career shutouts this weekend, all three have come against NSIC opponents.

Head coach Ali Omar has been very pleased with how the sophomore has stepped into her new role.

“She has been doing great, she’s been waiting for the last couple years and she has taken advantage of the opportunity,” coach Omar said.

Vial made eight saves in the shutout against Duluth. “When we need her to make a save she makes them,” said coach Omar. “I don’t think she’s facing any pressure, I don’t really think she cares.”

Winona State was able to use their depth off the bench as an advantage in the second half.

“The fact that we have people who can come off the bench and do the same thing even better, we just gain more energy,” said Omar.

Shauna Rodman put the Warriors ahead in the 67th minute after taking a pass from Morgan LeFebvre and sending it into the back of the net.

Jennifer DeRoo added another goal in the 80th minute and the Warriors were able to coast the final 10 minutes.

“In the first half we weren’t in the right spot, as soon as you don’t score doesn’t mean you have to abandon your plan,” said Omar. “We just needed to settle down, it was a big game.”

Alaina Kne spotted the only goal against St. Cloud, scoring in the 51st minute to put the Warriors ahead for good.

After another slow start the Warriors’ balance and depth came through again, holding St. Cloud to only four shots on goal.

“We played a much cleaner soccer game than the day before,” said Omar. “We had a lot of chances to make it an ever bigger lead but we were not able to knock them in.”

The team’s depth has shown all season, as eight different players have scored and nobody has more than one goal on the season.

Katy Soliday is the only player with more than one assist on the team, the second coming in the win against St. Cloud.

The Warriors took 14 shots and put six on goal, three coming off the foot of DeRoo, who also assisted on Kne’s goal.

Vial made four saves against St.Cloud, collecting her second shutout in as many days.

“It was not only what myself needed but the whole team as well,” said Vial. “It always feels good to come out of a tough weekend with no goals against.”

With the two wins this weekend, the Warriors are right on track to win their ninth consecutive NSIC conference title.

The Warriors only allowed four goal against NSIC opponents last year, another mark that they are on pace to match.

Winona State will finish its four game home stand against the University of Mary on Saturday, with an Alumni game to follow, and Minot State Sunday, both conference opponents.

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