ALLENDALE, Mich. -- The Wayne State University women's soccer team made program history on Sunday afternoon, earning a 3-1 victory over No. 5-Grand Valley State for the first ranked win in program history. The Warriors improved to 8-1-3 overall and 4-1-3 in GLIAC play, handing the Lakers, who entered the match at 8-1-3 overall and 6-0-2 in league play, their first conference loss of the season.
Sienna Mroue (Dearborn, Mich.) scored twice and added an assist, while
Olivia Jasniewicz (Troy, Mich.) also found the back of the net.
HOW IT HAPPENED
First Half
Wayne State opened the scoring at 5:19 when Mroue broke away and sent a shot into the lower-left corner of the net to give the Warriors an early 1-0 advantage.
Grand Valley State responded at 12:20 as Cora Conley found the lower-right corner to even the score at 1-1. Ava Spaine and Maddie Peot assisted on the equalizer, and the teams carried the deadlock into halftime.
Second Half
The Warriors regained the lead just 2:29 into the second half. At 47:29, Jasniewicz finished a chance into the lower-left corner following assists from Mroue and
Jess Clyde (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron [Schoolcraft C.C.]) to put WSU ahead 2-1.
Wayne State extended its advantage to 3-1 at the 53:00 mark when Mroue scored her second goal of the afternoon. She placed a shot into the lower-left corner off an assist from
Mairin Wessner (Northville, Mich. [Dayton]).
The Warriors maintained their two-goal advantage for the remainder of the match to secure the historic victory over the fifth-ranked Lakers.
WSU finished with 13 shots, including four on goal, while Grand Valley State recorded 17 shots, five of which were on target. The Warriors held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
GOALKEEPER INFORMATION
Kate Helfen (Troy, Mich. [Cincinnati]) played all 90 minutes in goal for the Warriors, recording four saves while allowing one goal.
Grand Valley State's Macy Hunter also played all 90 minutes, making one save and allowing three goals.
HISTORICAL NOTES
The victory marked Wayne State's first win over a ranked opponent in program history and handed Grand Valley State its first GLIAC loss of the season. The Lakers fell to 8-2-3 overall and 6-1-2 in league play.
Grand Valley State had not allowed three goals in a match since Oct. 21, 2022, when it suffered a 3-1 loss at Parkside. The Lakers last conceded three goals at home on Oct. 17, 2021, in a 4-3 victory over Northern Michigan.
Sunday's result marked the first time the Lakers had allowed three goals at home and lost since Sept. 4, 2005, when the Lakers fell 3-1 to Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL).
UP NEXT
The Warriors will return to the road on Friday, Oct. 16, traveling to Kenosha, Wis., to face Parkside at Wood Road Soccer Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wayne State will then head to Chicago on Sunday, Oct. 18, to take on Roosevelt at Morris Field, with kickoff set for 1 p.m.
