The Wayne State women’s soccer team came close in two road contests over the weekend but ended up with a pair of one-goal defeats.
On Friday, despite holding a 20-5 advantage in shots and 8-2 in corner kicks over MSU Moorhead, the Wayne State women’s soccer team dropped a 1-0 contest Friday afternoon at Moorhead, Minn.
The host Dragons made the most of their lone shot on goal in the first half as Kylee Billings found the back of the net on a free kick at the 9:44 mark to give MSU Moorhead a 1-0 lead. Wayne State outsho MSUM in the first half 8-4 and had seven shots on goal to just one for the Dragons.
Wayne State continued to be the aggressor in the second half and had several scoring chances, especially in the final 15 minutes, but could not find a score against Moorhead goalkeeper Kayleigh Sedlacek. Christina Stasi was denied twice in the 75th and 77th minutes, the first shot at an open net that was wide and another that was saved. Alexis Strothers had a free kick near the top of the box with just five minutes remaining, but Sedlacek came up with a big save again for the Dragons.
Wayne State finished with a 20-5 advantage in shots and 11-2 in shots on goal over the Dragons. The Wildcats had an 8-2 edge in corner kicks over MSUM while both teams had nine fouls.
Madison Kemp had four shots and a team-high three shots on goal for Wayne State followed by Stasi with four shots (one on goal). Sophia Ketchmark and Rylie Wehner each produced two shots and two shots on goal while freshman Megan Phillips recorded three shots with one on goal. Goalkeeper Alyssa Bagley was credited with one save while allowing one goal in the contest.
“We dealt with some tough circumstances today with cold weather and snow, but we have to find a way to score when we shoot the ball 20 times,” coach Joe Cleary said.
Despite tying a season-high three goals on the day, the Wildcats saw themselves on the wrong side of the scoresheet, falling 4-3 to Northern State Sunday afternoon in Aberdeen, S.D.
Northern State created an early advantage only seven minutes in. An initial shot from Northern State’s Emily Reiten rebounded off a defender to her foot again as she made no mistake the second time. The Wolves’ lead doubled five minutes later, an effort off the crossbar of the goal landing to Reiten, who turned it in for her second goal of the game.
The Wildcats responded in the 16th minute behind the foot of Megan Schuster. Her first goal on the year cut the deficit to one. Northern State responded late in the half. A scramble in the box after a corner kick unluckily found its way in the back of the Wildcat goal off a defender to put the Wolves up 3-1 going into half.
Only a minute into the second half, the Wildcats again found the back of the net to narrow the deficit to one in the 47th minute. Stasi fired a shot in from the top of the box for her second goal of the season, giving life to the Wildcats.
Northern State retaliated only minutes later after the ref gave a penalty to the Wolves, who again increased their advantage to 4-2.
Despite outshooting Northern State 13-6 in the second half, the Wildcats were unable to break through until the 85th minute through Carleigh Wilson for her first goal of the season. The goal pushed the Wolves on their heels for the last five minutes as the Wildcats produced two saves out of the Northern State keeper. The Wildcats were unable to complete a comeback to force overtime.
Megan Phillips led the Wildcats in shots with four, while Stasi and Samantha Phillips both recorded three shots. Grisham recorded two saves in the second half, while Bagley finished with one. The Wildcats as a team outshot the Wolves 20-15, including a 10-7 advantage in shots on goal.
“This weekend was tough,” Cleary said. “We were really shorthanded, but the players that were on the trip fought so hard and played well. They deserved more than they got this weekend.”
Wayne State (3-9-1, 3-7-1 NSIC) return home for a 3 p.m. contest against Bemidji State on Friday before hosting Minnesota Crookston for Parent’s Day on 1 p.m. Sunday.
