DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's soccer team (10-1-3 overall, 6-1-3 GLIAC) will face two conference opponents this weekend. The Warriors will host Grand Valley State (8-2-4 overall, 6-1-3 GLIAC) on Friday at 3 p.m. before traveling to University Center, Mich., to take on Saginaw Valley State (8-6-1 overall, 6-4-1 GLIAC) on Sunday at 1 p.m. at Robert C. Braddock Field.
The Warriors enter the weekend tied with Grand Valley State for first place in the GLIAC standings, with both teams holding 6-1-3 conference records and having already clinched spots in the league tournament. Wayne State is ranked fifth in the Midwest Region as of the Oct. 20 United Soccer Coaches poll, ahead of the Lakers at No. 6 and Northern Michigan at No. 9, making the Warriors the highest-ranked GLIAC team.
QUOTING HEAD COACH DOUG STEINARD
"This weekend will be another weekend of two very competitive games. We are looking forward to the opportunity as the regular season comes closer to the end. We are going to continue to go game by game."
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wayne State enters the weekend having won three consecutive matches, including a historic 3-1 road victory over then No. 5-Grand Valley State on Oct. 11, followed by 1-0 and 3-0 wins over Parkside and Roosevelt, respectively. The victory over the Lakers marked the first win over a nationally ranked opponent in program history.
Through 14 matches, WSU has scored 27 goals while allowing just eight, averaging 1.93 goals per game and conceding 0.57. The Warriors have been effective defensively, allowing just four goals in 1,195 minutes of 11-on-11 play while scoring 25 times in those situations.
Freshman forward
Sienna Mroue (Dearborn, Mich.) leads the Warriors with nine goals, three assists and three game-winning scores. Graduate
Mairin Wessner (Northville, Mich. [Dayton]) ranks second on the squad with six goals and one helper, while Jess Clude (Ann Arbor, Mich. / Huron [Schoolcraft C.C.]) has contributed two scores and three assists.
Olivia Jasniewicz (Troy, Mich.) has scored twice, including the game-winning goal in Wayne State's victory over Grand Valley State on Oct. 11.
In goal, redshirt-sophomore
Kate Helfen (Troy, Mich. [Cincinnati]) has been a key part of WSU's defensive success, allowing just eight goals while recording 39 saves and seven shutouts in 13 appearances. She carries a 0.62 goals-against average and a .830 save percentage into the weekend. Helfen earned GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 12 after recording 10 saves across the scoreless draw against Saginaw Valley State and the win over Grand Valley State.
The defensive unit has been anchored by redshirt-senior captain
Reagan Brengman (Harrison Township, Mich. / Warren Regina [Northwood]), who earned her second GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week honor following WSU's two shutouts on the road last weekend. Brengman logged 170 minutes played in the victories over Parkside and Roosevelt, and contributed to the game-winning goals in both contests.
SCOUTING GRAND VALLEY STATE
Grand Valley State enters Friday's matchup with a 8-2-4 overall record an a 6-1-3 mark in GLIAC play. The Lakers are tied with Wayne State for first place in the conference standings and sit sixth in the latest Midwest Region coaches poll.
The Warriors handed Grand Valley State its first conference loss of the season in the teams' initial meeting, earning a 3-1 victory in Allendale on Oct. 11. Mroue scored twice, while Jasniewicz added the game-winning goal in the second half.
The Lakers have scored 29 goals this season, averaging 2.07 per match, while allowing 10 goals. Grand Valley State has recorded 291 shots, averaging 20.8 per contest, and holds a 70-40 advantage in corner kicks over its opponents.
Junior defender Vesna Dennison leads the Lakers with six goals and three assists. Junior forward Sarah Fromm has contributed five scores and two helpers, while sophomore forward Ava Kozak has recorded four goals and four assists.
Sophomore goalkeeper Macie Hunter has started all 14 matches for Grand Valley State, playing 1,210 minutes while allowing 10 goals. She owns a 0.74 goals-against average and has recorded 29 saves.
SCOUTING SAGINAW VALLEY STATE
Saginaw Valley State enters the weekend with a 8-6-1 overall record and a 6-4-1 mark in conference play. The Cardinals and Warriors played to a scoreless draw in their first meeting on Oct. 9 in Detroit, the first such match in the Green and Gold's brief history.
The Cardinals have scored 26 goals through 15 matches, averaging 1.73 per game, while allowing 17 goals. SVSU has recorded 249 shots, averaging 16.6 per contest, and has earned 88 corner kicks.
Sophomore forward Abby Ellis leads the Cardinals with six goals and one assist. Freshman midfielder Melanie Kolnitys has contributed four scores and four helpers, while senior forward Kylie Cesarek has recorded four goals and one assist. Junior midfielder Jaidyn Weldhouse has added three scores and leads the team with three game-winning goals.
Fifth-year goalkeeper Ava Wilberding has started all 15 matches for the Cardinals, allowing 17 goals and recording 48 saves. She carries a 1.15 goals-against average into the weekend.
UP NEXT
Wayne State will return home on Thursday, Oct. 29, to host Michigan Tech at the WSU Soccer Complex. Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. The contest will mark the Warriors' second-to-last conference regular-season game.
