DETROIT -- The Wayne State University women's soccer program (6-0-2 overall, 2-0-1 in league play)
will return to action Sunday at noon (ET) against Purdue Northwest at Dowling Park, the home of PNW Soccer. Purdue Northwest enters Sunday's rematch with a 4-3-2 overall record and a 2-2-1 GLIAC mark.
Sunday's contest will mark the second meeting between the Warriors and Lions this season, as the teams played to a 2-2 draw on Sept. 18 at the WSU Soccer Complex. Wayne State played down a player more than 62 minutes in the contest after being reduced to 10 players due to a red card. Graduate student
Mairin Wessner (Northville, Mich. [Dayton]) found the back of the net twice as the teams finished level at 2-2.
QUOTING COACH STEINARD
"We are looking forward to a rematch with a good side. It will be difficult again playing on the road but we hope to learn from the first game and use that to our advantage."
LEADING THE WARRIORS
Wayne State's strong start has been led offensively by freshman
Sienna Mroue (Dearborn, Mich.) and Wessner. Mroue leads the Warriors with six goals through eight matches, while Wessner has five goals on the season after recording two goals against PNW in the teams' first meeting.
The Warriors' defensive efforts have also played a key role in the team's 6-0-2 record, with the unit consistently limiting opposing scoring opportunities. In goal, redshirt sophomore
Kate Helfen (Troy, Mich. [Cincinnati]) has allowed just four goals while recording 20 saves across seven starts this season.
SCOUTING THE LIONS
Purdue Northwest (4-3-2 overall, 2-2-1 GLIAC) enters Sunday's rematch coming off a 2-1 win at Roosevelt on Friday afternoon on goals by Sofia Camarillo and Mia Davis.
In the previous contest vs. WSU, the Lions' goals came from Natasha Tanner and Davis. Tanner was named the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 21 after scoring in both of PNW's matches the previous week, including against WSU. Goalkeeper Meta Fischer made six saves in the first meeting.
UP NEXT
The Warriors will stay on the road for a trip to Caledonia, Mich. on Oct. 4., where they will face off against Davenport for the second time this season. Kickoff is at 3 p.m.
