Crookston, Minn.—The University of Minnesota Crookston women's soccer team is coming off of their first two home matches of the season this past weekend, with a 3-0 loss at the hands of Minnesota Duluth, and a 1-0 loss to St. Cloud State. This weekend, the Golden Eagles will make arguably their longest trips of conference play with matches at Winona State on Friday, and an early Sunday matchup at Upper Iowa.
Minnesota Crookston will look to pick up their first win of the season after two hard fought matches last weekend at home.
Olivia Puttin (Jr. Rogers, Minn.) was solid in goal on Sunday afternoon after being tested heavily. After allowing two goals last Friday against Minnesota Duluth, she rebounded nicely, and allowed just one goal on Sunday against St. Cloud State.
Statistically for the Golden Eagles,
Maggee Hodgdon (Fr. Newberg, Ore.) leads the way in points, and shots. Hodgdon has the ability to put the ball in the back of the net at any time.
Kayla Stangeland (Jr. Mitchell, S.D.), and
Vanessa Shelton (So. Tacoma, Wash.) are threats on offense as well.
A look at the Warriors
When: Friday Sept. 21, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Winona, Minn.
Opponent: Winona State University (1-3 Overall, 1-2 NSIC)
https://winonastatewarriors.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/winona/
The Warriors come into the weekend with a losing record overall as well as the NSIC, but the record might not indicate what the Warriors could be at the end of the season. Winona State has played quality opponents this season, such as Michigan Tech, and nationally ranked Minnesota State Mankato.
Matt Kellogg is in his first year at the helm of Winona State, with having previous stints at the University of North Dakota, and Ferris State (MI).
Kellogg will rely on his senior goalkeeper to take the Warriors where they want to go. Jourdan Vaulkner, a senior from Wayne, Ill., has been solid in goal in her final season as a Warrior. Vaulkner has allowed six goals in four games this season, with three allowed against the Mavericks of Minnesota State Mankato. In that game, she made stopped 12 Maverick stops. On the year, she has a 1-3-0 record and a save percentage of .793.
Four Warriors are tied for the team lead with four points each, including Courtney Wiencek (Jr. Mequon, Wis.) and Georgette Topalis (So. Arlington Heights, Ill.). Wiencek and Topalis lead the team in shots with 15 and 10, respectively.
A look at the Peacocks
When: Sunday, Sept. 23, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Fayette, Iowa, Pattinson Field
Opponent: Upper Iowa University (1-5-0 Overall, 0-3-0 Conference)
https://portal.stretchinternet.com/uiu/
https://uiupeacocks.com/sidearmstats/wsoc/summary
Upper Iowa is coached by James Price, who is in his second season as the lead man for the Peacocks. Before UIU, Price was the head coach at Missouri Valley Conference power, Northern Iowa University.
In goal, the Peacocks will turn to freshman goalkeeper from Andover, Minn., Natalie Rudrud. Rudrud has started in all six games for the Peacocks allowing a goals against average of 1.79. She has made 49 saves on the season, and is 1-4 on the season, and that one win was a shutout at the hand of Fort Hays State University.
Offensively, Upper Iowa will rely on the trio of redshirt freshman Katie Samuels, freshman Haley Ramberg, and junior Hannah Dotter. Those three lead the Peacocks in points.
The key for UIU might be playing a full 90 minutes. Through their first six games, the Peacocks have been outscored seven to zero. The Golden Eagles will look to take advantage of those second half woes.
Upper Iowa has a roster full of players from different parts of the world, including the UK, Trinadad and Tobago, New Zealand, Sweden, and Belgium.
