The Winona State Women’s Soccer team finished their homestead with a 3-1 record after defeating the University of Mary 2-0 on Saturday and a 0-1 loss to Minot State Sunday.

The Warriors opened the weekend with their fifth straight win, all achieved against NSIC opponents.

Junior midfielder Samantha Fegen put WSU ahead with 21 minutes left to play in the first half against Mary after sinking a shot from 25 yards out into the back of the net.

Fegen established herself on the offensive side of the game, picking up her second goal of the season despite only taking five shots.

Fegen is the only Warrior with multiple goals.

Alexandra Vial made five saves and recorded her fifth straight shutout on the season, all coming in conference play as the Warriors out shot Mary 18-7.

Nine of the Warriors’s shots were on goal.

The Warriors scored one more goal in the second half when Katy Soliday passed to CoCo Sames. Soliday recorded assist number three of the season, also leading the team.

Soliday is one of three returning players recognized last year as an All-Conference performer.

WSU ended its weekend with a disappointing 1-0 loss to Minot State, after Zoe Fisher gave the Beavers a 1-0 lead with just under 12 minutes left to play. After taking the pass deep on the Warriors side of the field, Fisher took a shot from 20 yards out that sailed just out of Vial’s reach, the first goal allowed in a conference game for the sophomore goalkeeper.

“We didn’t play as a team,” said head coach Ali Omar. “We played as a bunch of individuals who can play soccer.”

The Warriors had chances to take the lead in both halves, putting eight shots on goal— 14 shots total. “We really just couldn’t put anything away,” said junior defender Rebecca McCoy. “I think they (Minot) came out here, they just wanted it more; We need to bring it in practice and want to be out here on the field, that’s all there is to it.”

The Warriors played a balanced game, taking seven shots in both halves, but it was the second half push by Minot state that made the difference.

The Beavers were held to four shots in the first half before increasing the tempo and taking eight shots in the second half.

“They are a very tough, organized team,” said Omar. “We knew they were gonna play us that way, it’s just very disappointing.”

Coach Omar and McCoy agreed that they would have to pick up the intensity in practice. “Everybody on this team is going to have to remember how we play, we don’t want it to happen again,” said Omar.

The Warriors fell to 5-3 on the season and 5-1 in the NSIC, one game behind conference leader Minnesota State- Mankato but coach Omar is not worrying about the conference standings.

“We will have to play, we basically have to play soccer,” said Omar. “Who cares how we end up in the end, we don’t want it to end until the last game is played.”

Vial made eight saves in the game, bringing her weekend total to 13 and 47 on the season.

“They came here to get their points after a loss yesterday” said Omar “and they got the three that they needed.”

The Warriors will travel to Northern State (S.D) on Saturday and MSU-Moorhead on Sunday before returning to play Southwest Minnesota State at home on October 6th.

Contact Dan at DNoth11@ winona.edu