Ottumwa, IA – For the third consecutive game, the No. 17 Indian Hills Women's Soccer team rolled to an impressive victory as the Warriors topped Bryant & Stratton College (WI) 9-1 on the opening day of the Indian Hills Classic at Schafer Stadium. Indian Hills improves to 3-0-0 on the year.
The Warriors, ranked No. 17 in the preseason National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DI Women's Soccer poll, currently leads the nation in total goals scored with 28 through three games played. Indian Hills has outscored its opponents 28-1 on the year.
"It was a good win overall for us," stated head coach Anthony Longo. "It was a team we should beat, and we went out and did it. Defensively, we were solid for all but 30 seconds. Even late in games, we have to be tight on the defensive end."
Sophomore KJ Schmidt (Cedar Rapids, IA/Washington) opened up the scoring with a cross that deflected into the back of the net 25 minutes into the match. Sophomore Risa Ogasawara (Yokohama, Japan/Hinomoto) followed up with a strike from the top of the box one minute later to double the lead. Ikumi Okumura (Edogawa, Japan/Murata) netted her fourth goal in two games in the 27th minute on an assist from Bailey Wiemann (Burlington, IA/Burlington) as the Warriors took a 3-0 halftime advantage.
Wiemann, currently the nation's leading scorer opened up the second half with back-to-back goals, the first coming via Elisabeth Plouy (Twin Falls, ID/Twin Falls) and the second off a corner kick from Ogasawara. Wiemann contributed on a third consecutive goal with an assist to Dare Kroeten (St. Louis Park, MN/St. Louis Park) in the 70th minute for a 7-0 edge.
Rebekah Gutierrez (Denver, CO/Klein Oak) kept the momentum going late in the match as the freshman converted two goals in the closing minutes, the first two goals of her career. Schmidt and Dalen Mueller (Williamsburg, IA/Williamsburg) were credited with the final assists.
Freshman Trisha Westphal was rarely tested in net to pick up her third consecutive win to start her young career. The defensive backline was once again solid for the Warriors, anchored by Abbie Bailey (Redditch, England/Arrowvale). "I thought Abbie on the backline did a really good job," Longo added. "She's going to be one of the top defenders I've ever coached. Her potential is sky high."
Through three games this season, Wiemann leads the NJCAA DI Women's Soccer leaderboard with 16 points, six assists, and 16 total shots. The team's leading scorer from a year ago, Wiemann is tied for second nationally with five goals.
Under the guidance of Longo, the Warriors have now won 27 consecutive home matches dating back to Sept. 20, 2017.
Indian Hills is back in action Sunday afternoon at 1:00 PM at Schafer Stadium on the final day of the Indian Hills Classic. The Warriors will take on Lincoln Land Community College (IL).
