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No. 14 Metro State (Colo.) slipped past No. 19 WSU 2-1 on a defensive breakdown in the sixth minute of overtime at Maxwell Field.
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Winona's Brittany Hayes dribbles by Metro State's Michael Ann Karas on Saturday at Maxwell Field in Winona. (Photo by Paul Solberg/Winona Daily News) |
Two days after the Warriors opened with an overtime win by the same score against visiting Regis (Colo.), this Rocky Mountain road team stood up to the defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champions.
Metro State sophomore Ashley Nemmers found an open spot 5 yards from the Warriors’ net before flicking in the point-blank winner.
“It’s definitely not what we wanted, but it’s exciting and we learn from each game and build off of it,” said WSU sophomore Cori Beard, who tied the score 1-1 in the 55th minute with her first collegiate goal. “Every team is going to be a challenge. We can’t go in just thinking we’re the better team. Each team is going to be a task.”
The stiff nonconference competition should continue for the Warriors, who were picked to finish second in the newly-expanded NSIC preseason coaches’ poll.
“Maybe there’s a target, but that means nothing,” Beard said. “We take it and we have to prove it on the field.”
The Warriors conclude the season-opening, three-game homestand Friday against Fort Lewis (Colo.). The Skyhawks were picked to finish first, one spot ahead of Metro State, in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference preseason coaches’ poll.
“It’s good for us,” WSU coach Ali Omar said. “The harder the game, the better we’re going to be later this year.
“We can’t have those false hopes that maybe we’re better than we are, that we’re going to beat everybody. That’s not going to help. Going through the tough matches right now and facing adversity like we did today, it’s going to make these guys better.”
