DAYTON — The Wright State women's soccer program heads to Indianapolis to face Butler on Thursday, September 1, at the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl. The non-conference match will commence at 7 p.m. and air on FloSports. Live stats will also be provided.
MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, September 1 - 7 p.m. -
Watch ($) -
Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Raiders improved to 3-1 on the season after taking down Central Michigan 3-0 in their home opener at Alumni Field last Sunday. WSU collected its second-straight victory in shutout fashion, marking the first time since 2017 the Raiders achieved the feat against two Division I opponents.
Wright State tallied a season-high 17 shots, including 12 on goal. The trio of
Maddie Mitchell,
Lauren Borchert, and
Annika Samborski connected on their first goals of the season, while
Michelle Rings,
Marcella Sizer, and
Mariella Hartmann tallied an assist apiece.
The defense stood out by limiting Central Michigan to a mere five shots overall and none in the second half. Goalkeeper
Jessika Seward tallied three saves, all in the first half, en route to her third collegiate shutout.
WSU also showed off its depth with a season-high 22 individuals receiving playing time in the win.
SCOUTING THE BULLDOGS
Butler is 2-1 in the early season with victories over Western Michigan and nationally-ranked Michigan and a loss to Illinois at home. Katie Soderstrom leads the Bulldogs with five points on two game-winning goals and one assist, while Alana Wood has totaled a team-high two assists. Goalkeeper Anna Pierce has allowed just one goal in three starts.
A season ago, Butler compiled an 15-5-1 overall record, highlighted by the program's third appearance in the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs finished 7-2-1 in BIG EAST play, landing in the third spot in the conference and qualifying for their seventh consecutive BIG EAST Tournament. The Bulldogs' season ended with a 2-1 loss to Wisconsin in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
HISTORY VS. BUTLER
Wright State is 9-17-2 all-time against Butler. Last season, the Raiders endured a 3-1 defeat to Butler.
Brittney Petrosky scored WSU's lone goal of the game, while
Jessika Seward totaled six saves in the second half.
PRECISION AT ITS FINEST
As a team, the Raiders rank 17th in the country and first in the Horizon League in shot accuracy (.619).
Michelle Rings is 3-for-3 on the year in shot-on-goal attempts, while
Lauren Borchert has compiled a team-leading six shots on frame.
BRICK WALL
Jessika Seward earned Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in her collegiate career after leading WSU to back-to-back shutouts. In Wright State's 1-0 victory at Miami (OH), she notched five saves, including four in the second half to preserve the shutout. The Navarre, Fla. native added three saves, all in the first half, in the Raiders' 3-0 win against Central Michigan at home.
The redshirt junior currently ranks second in the Horizon League and 23rd nationally with two shutouts and has allowed just three goals over four matches this season.
HOT START
With a 3-1 record, Wright State is off to its best four-match start since 2019. The Raiders defeated a pair of NAIA programs during their 2019 stretch, while all four opponents this season stand at the Division I level.
SHOWING OFF DEPTH
Nineteen Raiders have appeared in all four games, including seven newcomers. A season-high 22 individuals earned playing time in Wright State's 3-0 win versus CMU.
Kaylee Pham, a freshman out of nearby Springboro, has logged a team-best 351 minutes over four starts.
HL LEADERS
The Raiders top the Horizon League in several teams categories, including goals (6), shots on goal (26), assists (6), points (18), saves (20), and margin of victory (0.75).
CAREER LEADERS (at Wright State only)
Goals
Josie Krupp - 10
Michelle Rings - 6
Olga Massombo - 5
Assists
Josie Krupp &
Michelle Rings - 6
Olga Massombo - 5
Lauren Borchert,
Maddie Mitchell, &
Makaylee Zuercher - 2
Points
Josie Krupp - 26
Michelle Rings - 18
Olga Massombo - 15
Saves
Jessika Seward - 119
Erin Baker - 27
Kiera Sarka - 4
Games
Josie Krupp - 66
Michelle Rings - 48
Kaylin Helinski - 46
Starts
Michelle Rings - 36
Kaylin Helinski - 30
Josie Krupp &
Olga Massombo - 29
PRESEASON PREP
Exhibition contests against Michigan State, Western Michigan, and Morehead State served as tune-ups for the 2022 season. Wright State concluded preseason play with a 3-0 victory over Morehead State at Alumni Field.
Josie Krupp,
Elise Canter, and
Annika Samborski found the back of the net in the victory, while
Jessika Seward and
Hanna Hargrave combined for the shutout in goal.
RETURNING TALENT
Wright State returns 10 players who logged nine or more starts and 700-plus minutes, including a pair of All-Horizon League performers in
Olga Massombo and
Olivia Mace. The trio of
Madison Keller,
Taylor Lauck, and
Josie Krupp are in the midst of their fifth year with the Raiders.
Massombo, Krupp,
Maddie Mitchell, and
Michelle Rings found the back of the net multiple times a season ago, while
Lauren Borchert tied for second on the team with two assists. Mace was the lone Raiders to appear and start in all 18 matches, totaling a team-leading 1,578 minutes.
Jessika Seward is in her third season as WSU's goalkeeper, where she has tallied 119 saves and three shutouts in 25 career starts.
MEET THE COACHES
The Raiders are led by second-year head coach
Travis Sobers, a longtime assistant coach at WSU, before taking reigns on the sidelines last summer. The former Wright State men's soccer standout player helped the Raiders to victories over Marshall, Akron, IUPUI, Cleveland State, and UIC in 2021. Assistant coach
Abbey Frail joined the Raiders in January 2022 after two seasons on the staff at her alma mater Wingate University. Last fall, as interim head coach, she guided the Bulldogs to an 11-6 overall record.
WELCOME TO THE FAM
WSU welcomes 10 first-year students and two transfers to this season's squad.
Marcella Sizer joined the Raiders after three seasons at fellow Horizon League school Youngstown State, where she totaled 23 points on 10 goals — two game-winners — and three assists over three seasons.
OHIO STRONG
Wright State's 2022 roster features 20 players from Ohio. Three Raiders in
Elise Canter,
Ashley Vaughn, and
Heidi Orloff came to WSU from nearby Beavercreek High School. Another three individuals in
Annika Samborski,
Brandi Greenlee, and
Olivia Mace prepped at Centerville High School.
PRESEASON POLL
The Raiders were picked sixth in the annual Horizon League preseason poll, which the league's 11 head coaches voted on. Oakland topped the conference poll while defending HL tournament champion Milwaukee was close behind in the second.
NEXT UP
After Butler, the Raiders face a road matchup against Eastern Kentucky on Sunday, September 4, at 1 p.m. The non-conference game will stream on ESPN+.
