Thursday, September 21
Dayton, OH
6 PM
Wright State University
vs
Youngstown State
Photo by: Joseph Craven
Women’s Soccer hosts Youngstown State on Thursday night
9/20/2023 2:30:00 PM | Women's Soccer
DAYTON — The Wright State women's soccer program welcomes Youngstown State to Alumni Field on Thursday, September 21, at 6 p.m. Admission will be free for all spectators, while live stats will also be available.
MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, September 21 - 6 p.m. - Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Raiders are coming off a 1-0 victory at Green Bay (9/14) in their conference opener last Thursday. Wright State was in control for the majority of the match, besting the hosts in total shots (14-9), shots on goal (6-4), and corner kicks (2-0). Lauren Borchert delivered the game-winning goal off feeds from Kaylin Helinski and Caitlin Burger in the 58th minute. Goalkeeper Kiera Sarka tallied four saves en route to her second shutout performance of the 2023 campaign. Three of her four saves transpired in the second half, which included back-to-back stops at the 78-minute mark.
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State is 5-3-1 overall and 1-1 against Horizon League opponents this season. The Penguins opened conference play with a one-goal loss at Detroit Mercy but bounced back with a 2-1 victory versus Northern Kentucky at home.
YSU ranks seventh in the HL with 1.33 goals per match. Lianna Van Sice has paced the team's offense with seven points on two goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Brooklynn Kirkpatrick sits top 50 nationally in total saves (23rd, 48), saves per game (37th, 5.33), and save percentage (42nd, .842).
HISTORY VS. YSU
WSU holds a substantial advantage in the all-time series, leading 22-2-3. The Raiders collected a 2-0 shutout victory at YSU in the 2022 regular season but dropped a 2-1 contest to the Penguins in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kiera Sarka's four-save shutout performance against Green Bay (9/14) led to Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her collegiate career. The senior currently holds top-50 national marks in total saves (42nd, 42) and saves per game (44th, 5.25). She recorded a career-high 14 saves versus Dayton (9/3), tied for ninth-most by a Division I goalkeeper this season and the highest mark by a Raider since Maddie Jewell's 14 saves against Milwaukee (11/2/17) during the 2017 campaign.
SHE'S CLUTCH
Lauren Borchert is tied for first in the Horizon League and 46th nationally with two game-winning goals. The Richfield, Ohio native scored her first goal of the 2023 campaign versus Southern Indiana (8/24) and added a game-winner at Green Bay last Thursday.
GOAL LEADER
Marcella Sizer is tied for first on the team with two goals through eight matches. The fifth-year senior found the back of the net in WSU's home-opening win versus Southern Indiana (8/24), followed by a game-winning header against Akron (9/10). The reigning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year has tallied eight goals since joining the program last season, good for the second-highest career mark amongst active Raiders.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Sophia Kuerze enjoyed a breakout performance in Wright State's 2-1 victory over Akron (9/10), as she was responsible for both of the Raiders' goals. The freshman opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal at the 25-minute mark and followed with a game-winning assist in the 73rd minute. Her three points were the most by a Raider this season.
PACING THE ATTACK
Lauren Borchert sits seventh in the Horizon League with 2.25 shots per contest. The senior forward has recorded multiple shots in five matches, highlighted by a season-high five strikes against Southern Indiana. A season ago, she led the conference in shots on goal per game (1.67) and shots on goal (30) while also ranking second in shot accuracy (.588) and third in shots per game (2.83).
ALL-CONFERENCE TALENT
Wright State returns four All-Horizon League selections from last season. Marcella Sizer became the second individual in program history to earn League Offensive Player of the Year after leading the team in points (15) and goals (6). Lauren Borchert topped the conference in shots on goal per game (1.67) and shots on goal (30) en route to All-League Second Team honors. Elise Canter (4 goals) and Kaylee Pham (18 starts, 1,601 minutes) garnered All-Freshman Team accolades.
MEET THE COACHES
The Raiders are led by third-year head coach Travis Sobers, a longtime assistant coach at WSU before taking reigns on the sidelines two summers ago. The former Wright State men's soccer standout player guided the Raiders to an 8-7-3 overall record and a 5-2-3 mark in conference play last year, good for the program's first winning seasons in both categories since 2019. First-year assistant coach Krystle Seidel joined the staff in May 2023 after a four-year head coaching stint at Macalester College and nine seasons at the University of Minnesota.
PRESEASON POLL
The Raiders were picked seventh in the annual Horizon League preseason poll, which the league's 11 head coaches voted on. Defending conference champion Milwaukee topped the poll, while Oakland was close behind in second.
2023 SQUAD
WSU welcomes ten newcomers — all freshmen — to this season's squad. The Raiders' 29-player roster includes nine returning sophomores, four juniors, four seniors, and two fifth-year student-athletes.
OHIO STRONG
Wright State's 2023 roster features 20 players from Ohio. Four Raiders — Addy Canter, Elise Canter, Ashley Vaughn, and Heidi Orloff — came to WSU from nearby Beavercreek High School. Another three individuals — Annika Samborski, Brandi Greenlee, and Olivia Mace — prepped at Centerville High School.
CAREER LEADERS (at Wright State only)
Goals
Lauren Borchert - 9
Marcella Sizer - 8
Kaylin Helinski - 6
Assists
Olivia Mace - 8
Marcella Sizer & Lauren Borchert - 3
Amber Branum & Kaylin Helinski - 2
Points
Lauren Borchert - 21
Marcella Sizer - 17
Kaylin Helinski - 14
Saves
Kiera Sarka - 48
Erin Baker - 38
Games
Kaylin Helinski - 65
Lauren Borchert - 53
Heidi Orloff - 46
Starts
Kaylin Helinski - 49
Lauren Borchert - 47
Olivia Mace - 40
UP NEXT
After Youngstown State, the Raiders will face a road matchup at Robert Morris on Sunday, September 24.
MATCH INFORMATION
Thursday, September 21 - 6 p.m. - Live Stats
LAST TIME OUT
The Raiders are coming off a 1-0 victory at Green Bay (9/14) in their conference opener last Thursday. Wright State was in control for the majority of the match, besting the hosts in total shots (14-9), shots on goal (6-4), and corner kicks (2-0). Lauren Borchert delivered the game-winning goal off feeds from Kaylin Helinski and Caitlin Burger in the 58th minute. Goalkeeper Kiera Sarka tallied four saves en route to her second shutout performance of the 2023 campaign. Three of her four saves transpired in the second half, which included back-to-back stops at the 78-minute mark.
SCOUTING THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State is 5-3-1 overall and 1-1 against Horizon League opponents this season. The Penguins opened conference play with a one-goal loss at Detroit Mercy but bounced back with a 2-1 victory versus Northern Kentucky at home.
YSU ranks seventh in the HL with 1.33 goals per match. Lianna Van Sice has paced the team's offense with seven points on two goals and three assists. Goalkeeper Brooklynn Kirkpatrick sits top 50 nationally in total saves (23rd, 48), saves per game (37th, 5.33), and save percentage (42nd, .842).
HISTORY VS. YSU
WSU holds a substantial advantage in the all-time series, leading 22-2-3. The Raiders collected a 2-0 shutout victory at YSU in the 2022 regular season but dropped a 2-1 contest to the Penguins in the conference tournament quarterfinals.
DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kiera Sarka's four-save shutout performance against Green Bay (9/14) led to Horizon League Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her collegiate career. The senior currently holds top-50 national marks in total saves (42nd, 42) and saves per game (44th, 5.25). She recorded a career-high 14 saves versus Dayton (9/3), tied for ninth-most by a Division I goalkeeper this season and the highest mark by a Raider since Maddie Jewell's 14 saves against Milwaukee (11/2/17) during the 2017 campaign.
SHE'S CLUTCH
Lauren Borchert is tied for first in the Horizon League and 46th nationally with two game-winning goals. The Richfield, Ohio native scored her first goal of the 2023 campaign versus Southern Indiana (8/24) and added a game-winner at Green Bay last Thursday.
GOAL LEADER
Marcella Sizer is tied for first on the team with two goals through eight matches. The fifth-year senior found the back of the net in WSU's home-opening win versus Southern Indiana (8/24), followed by a game-winning header against Akron (9/10). The reigning Horizon League Offensive Player of the Year has tallied eight goals since joining the program last season, good for the second-highest career mark amongst active Raiders.
BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Sophia Kuerze enjoyed a breakout performance in Wright State's 2-1 victory over Akron (9/10), as she was responsible for both of the Raiders' goals. The freshman opened the scoring with her first collegiate goal at the 25-minute mark and followed with a game-winning assist in the 73rd minute. Her three points were the most by a Raider this season.
PACING THE ATTACK
Lauren Borchert sits seventh in the Horizon League with 2.25 shots per contest. The senior forward has recorded multiple shots in five matches, highlighted by a season-high five strikes against Southern Indiana. A season ago, she led the conference in shots on goal per game (1.67) and shots on goal (30) while also ranking second in shot accuracy (.588) and third in shots per game (2.83).
ALL-CONFERENCE TALENT
Wright State returns four All-Horizon League selections from last season. Marcella Sizer became the second individual in program history to earn League Offensive Player of the Year after leading the team in points (15) and goals (6). Lauren Borchert topped the conference in shots on goal per game (1.67) and shots on goal (30) en route to All-League Second Team honors. Elise Canter (4 goals) and Kaylee Pham (18 starts, 1,601 minutes) garnered All-Freshman Team accolades.
MEET THE COACHES
The Raiders are led by third-year head coach Travis Sobers, a longtime assistant coach at WSU before taking reigns on the sidelines two summers ago. The former Wright State men's soccer standout player guided the Raiders to an 8-7-3 overall record and a 5-2-3 mark in conference play last year, good for the program's first winning seasons in both categories since 2019. First-year assistant coach Krystle Seidel joined the staff in May 2023 after a four-year head coaching stint at Macalester College and nine seasons at the University of Minnesota.
PRESEASON POLL
The Raiders were picked seventh in the annual Horizon League preseason poll, which the league's 11 head coaches voted on. Defending conference champion Milwaukee topped the poll, while Oakland was close behind in second.
2023 SQUAD
WSU welcomes ten newcomers — all freshmen — to this season's squad. The Raiders' 29-player roster includes nine returning sophomores, four juniors, four seniors, and two fifth-year student-athletes.
OHIO STRONG
Wright State's 2023 roster features 20 players from Ohio. Four Raiders — Addy Canter, Elise Canter, Ashley Vaughn, and Heidi Orloff — came to WSU from nearby Beavercreek High School. Another three individuals — Annika Samborski, Brandi Greenlee, and Olivia Mace — prepped at Centerville High School.
CAREER LEADERS (at Wright State only)
Goals
Lauren Borchert - 9
Marcella Sizer - 8
Kaylin Helinski - 6
Assists
Olivia Mace - 8
Marcella Sizer & Lauren Borchert - 3
Amber Branum & Kaylin Helinski - 2
Points
Lauren Borchert - 21
Marcella Sizer - 17
Kaylin Helinski - 14
Saves
Kiera Sarka - 48
Erin Baker - 38
Games
Kaylin Helinski - 65
Lauren Borchert - 53
Heidi Orloff - 46
Starts
Kaylin Helinski - 49
Lauren Borchert - 47
Olivia Mace - 40
UP NEXT
After Youngstown State, the Raiders will face a road matchup at Robert Morris on Sunday, September 24.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Soccer
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M
/ Women's Soccer
M
/ Women's Soccer
D
/ Women's Soccer
F
/ Women's Soccer
M/F
/ Women's Soccer
M
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M
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F/M
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GK
/ Women's Soccer
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/ Women's Soccer
M
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