DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's soccer program (12-1-5 overall, 8-1-5 GLIAC) will begin postseason play on Tuesday, Nov. 3, hosting Ferris State (6-7-5 overall, 4-6-4 GLIAC) in the GLIAC Tournament quarterfinals.  Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. at the WSU Soccer Complex.

Wayne State enters the tournament as the No. 1 seed after capturing the outright GLIAC Regular-Season Championship in its inaugural season.  The Warriors secured the top seed and a home field advantage for the quarterfinal round following a 2-2 draw against Ferris State on Oct. 31. 

WSU is also sitting at No. 17 nationally in the Oct. 29 week nine poll of the United Soccer Coaches ranking.  On the regional level, the Warriors climbed to No. 2 in the Midwest Region in the Oct. 27 United Soccer Coaches regional rankings.  

QUOTING HEAD COACH DOUG STEINARD
"Knockout soccer is a whole different game.  We have the opportunity to play Ferris State for a third time and they are a very good team.  3 p.m. on Tuesday is going to be very exciting." 

LEADING THE WARRIORS 
Freshman Sienna Mroue leads the team with 11 goals and nine assists for 31 points.  She also has a team-high three game-winning goals.  Graduate student Mairin Wessner (Northville, Mich. [Dayton]) ranks second with eight goals, while rookie Sabrina Gaul (Troy, Mich.) has added four goals and two assists. 

Mroue leads the GLIAC in goals (11), points (31) and shots on goal (36).  She ranks second in the conference with nine assists.  Wessner ranks fourth in the league with eight goals. 

In goal, sophomore Kate Helfen (Troy, Mich. [Cincinnati]) leads the GLIAC with eight shutouts and a 0.76 goals-against average.  She ranks second in the conference with 58 saves and has allowed just 13 goals through 17 appearances.  Helfen also owns an .817 save percentage. 

The Warriors have scored 37 goals through 18 matches, averaging 2.06 goals per game, while allowing just 13 goals (0.72 per game).  WSU has also recorded 114 corner kicks and 34 assists. 

SCOUTING FERRIS STATE 
Ferris State enters Tuesday's match-up as the No. 8 seed with a 6-7-5 overall record and a 4-6-4 mark in GLIAC play.  Senior Haley Buckman leads the Bulldogs with six goals and 14 points, converting all three of her penalty-kick attempts.  Senior Katherine Welch has added five goals and two assists, while junior Natalia Leavens has recorded four goals and one assist. 

The Bulldogs and Warriors met twice during the regular season, with Wayne State earning a 2-1 victory in Big Rapids in the GLIAC opener for both squads, before the teams played to a 2-2 draw in Detroit on Oct. 31.  In the most recent meeting, Gaul gave the Warriors an early lead before Ferris State's Anna Thelen converted a free kick to even the score just before halftime.  Leavens put the Bulldogs ahead after the break, but WSU freshman Maya Bjedov (Brighton, Mich.) headed a Mroue corner kick to secure the 2-2 draw.

UP NEXT 
The winner of Tuesday's quarterfinal will advance to the GLIAC Tournament semifinals.  The game time and host site will be announced following the quarterfinal games on Tuesday.