Box Score
Augustana had numerous scoring opportunities but was unable to capitalize on them as Winona State handed the Vikings a 3-0 setback on a cold, windy Saturday afternoon at the Augustana Soccer Complex.
The Vikings dropped to 4-5-4 overall and 1-2-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate after suffering their first loss at their new home soccer field. Winona State improved to 8-4-0 and 5-1-0 in the NSIC.
Augustana outshot the Warriors by a 23-9 margin, including a 13-6 difference in shots on goal. WSU goalkeeper Anna Belpedio made several strong stops among her 11 saves, and the Vikings had numerous other shots that narrowly missed finding the net.
In the opening minutes of the game, Augustana had its first scoring opportunity.
Stephanie Goos broke free down the right side. She crossed the ball in front of the net, beating Belpedio. Augie's
Katie Shandri came streaking in from the left and made a sliding attempt to poke the ball into the wide open goal. However, the ball was a little too far in front of her and she couldn't her foot on the ball.
WSU made Augustana pay moments later. The Warriors put a corner kick in front of the goal. The Vikings were unable to clear the ball before Sarah Colleran scored past Augie netminder
Melissa Fowler at the 5:42 mark.
Augustana had four other close calls in the first half.
Jessie Huff shot just high and wide at the 9-minute mark, while
Alicia DeHaan had a potential goal cleared by the WSU defense at 27:14. Two minutes later,
Katie Bowman had a point-blank shot that just missed the left side of the net.
Things didn't get much better in the second half, even with the wind at the Vikings' backs. At 50:48, Shandri beat Belpedio with a shot but another Warrior defender cleared the ball.
Moments later, the Warriors had a breakaway and Lauren Sturdivant beat Fowler to make the score 2-0 at the 55:07 mark.
Augustana continued to pressure the WSU net though. Within a 2-minute span, Belpedio stopped headers by
Kate Timmons and
Jill Goodrich with approximately 25 minutes left in the game.
WSU put the game out of reach at 71:12 when Amanda Dennis scored off an assist from Karen Schappert.
In addition to outshooting WSU, Augustana also had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.
Augustana returns to the pitch on Sunday to take on Upper Iowa in a 1 p.m. contest.
