DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's soccer team (8-1-3 overall, 4-1-3 GLIAC) will face two road opponents this weekend, taking on Parkside (6-4-2 overall, 4-3-1 GLIAC) and Roosevelt (1-9-3 overall, 1-7-1 GLIAC). WSU will first face Parkside at 2 p.m. ET on Friday in Kenosha, Wis., before traveling to Chicago to take on Roosevelt on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
The United Soccer Coaches Association released its Week Seven Rankings on Oct. 13, with the Warriors claiming the No. 5 spot in the Midwest Region, moving up one position from Week Six.
Grand Valley State remains No. 1 in the Midwest Region, followed by GLIAC opponents Northern Michigan at No. 9 and Davenport at No. 10. The full rankings can be found
here.
QUOTING HEAD COACH DOUG STEINARD
"This is our first long weekend on the road, which will be a new challenge for our team. Friday, we face Parkside, who is right there with us in the (GLIAC) standings, which will be a tough matchup for our squad. Sunday, we have another opponent in Roosevelt, who has shown that they can play with anyone in the league. We are looking forward to a weekend away and some good soccer."
LEADING THE WARRIORS
WSU enters the weekend with an 8-1-3 overall record and a 4-1-3 mark in GLIAC play. The Warriors are coming off a ranked win over No. 5-Grand Valley State on Oct. 11. On Oct. 12, freshman forward
Sienna Mroue (Dearborn, Mich.) was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week for the second time this season, while redshirt-sophomore goalkeeper
Kate Helfen (Troy, Mich. [Cincinnati]) earned her first GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honor.
Mroue paces the Warriors offensively with nine goals, three assists and three game-winning goals. Graduate-student
Mairin Wessner (Northville, Mich. [Dayton]) ranks second on the squad with five goals. Freshman
Olivia Jasniewicz (Troy, Mich.) scored the game-winner against the Lakers, marking her first-career goal.
In goal, Helfen has appeared in 11 matches, allowing eight goals and recording 35 saves. She recorded a season-high six saves in her shutout against Saginaw Valley State on Oct. 9.
The Warriors' defensive effort has been anchored by freshmen
Maya Bjedov (Brighton, Mich.) and
Ellie Whalen (Commerce Township, Mich. / Pontiac Notre Dame Prep), along with redshirt-senior
Reagan Brengman (Harrison Township, Mich. / Warren Regina [Northwood]). Bjedov has played all 90 minutes in five consecutive matches, while Brengman has recorded four straight full 90-minute performances. Whalen contributed to the defensive effort over the weekend, logging a season-high 150 combined minutes against the Lakers and Cardinals.
SCOUTING PARKSIDE
Parkside enters Friday's matchup with an 6-4-2 overall record and a 4-3-1 mark in league play. The Rangers are coming off a 1-1 tie against Grand Valley State on Oct. 9. Head coach Brittany Nikolic leads Parkside after guiding the program to a second-place finish during league play in 2025 with a 9-4-1 conference record.
Junior Ava Rizzitano leads the Rangers' attack with six goals this season and has scored in each of Parkside's last three games. Junior Kayden Schmidt has with four goals.
Sophomore goalkeeper Lindsey Ferrara has started all 12 matches for Parkside, allowing 13 goals and recording 36 saves.
SCOUTING ROOSEVELT
Roosevelt enters the weekend with a 1-9-3 overall record and a 1-7-1 conference mark. The Lakers will travel to Purdue Northwest on Oct. 16 before returning home to take on the Warriors on the Oct. 18.
A pair of juniors fuel the Lakers' offense, as Bella Perry has recorded three goals this season and Aaliyah Xiomara Leanos has netted two. Four other players have scored this season, bringing the team's total to nine goals.
Kaylee Sarnicola has been a mainstay in goal for Roosevelt, recording 113 saves, while allowing 34 goals.
UP NEXT
Following this weekend's action, WSU will face Sagniaw Valley State and Grand Valley State for the second time this season. The Warriors will host the Lakers on Friday, Oct. 23, at 3 p.m. at the WSU Soccer Complex, before traveling to Saginaw Valley State on Sunday, Oct. 25, for a rematch after the teams played to a scoreless draw in their first meeting.
