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NWAC 1st round Women's Soccer vs Walla Walla

Hanalyn Sypher free kick
Hanalyn Sypher runs up for a free kick. Courtesy of Lorena Martins

The Lane Titans closed the season with a number 5 ranking and a record of 14-1-2 overall and 10-1-1 in region. The Warriors of Walla Walla are not ranked, but did receive a vote for the rankings. They finished 8-3-3 and tied for 2nd in the East region, but lost their tie breaker with North Idaho. Despite their 3rd place finish, the Warriors posted a 11-4-3 overall record.

The Warriors are not a high scoring team, ranking 14th out of 29 teams at 2.06 goals per game. But it is not their offense that has won them games, instead their defense. They have only conceded 15 goals,; an average of .75 per game, which is 7th best in the NWAC.

The Warriors goalkeeper is Danielle Dowd. She has lodged the 2nd most minutes in the NWAC and is 2nd in individual shutouts and wins with 7. 

Offensively it is a balanced attack. The Warriors have four players that have double-digit points scored. Their leader, though, is Klarissa Baraja. Baraja leads with 7 goals and 15 points scored. 23 of her 24 shots have been on target and her shooting percentage is .292.

The Titans on the other hand have been able to lean on their offense and defense. Danielle VanOrd is 5th in the NWAC in points with 42 and Yuuyu Suzuki, 10th, with 33 points.

In goal the Titans have two sophomores who have split time, Hanalyn Sypher and Kaitlyn Weber. Sypher is 2nd in save percentage at .923 and Weber is 7th at .842. Because they have split time during the games, neither rank high in shutouts, despite the Titans having 11 on the season, 2nd most in the NWAC.

One of the keys for the Titans great defensive numbers is their back line. The Titans goalkeepers have only had to save 60 shots, 7th fewest.

The 1st round of the NWAC playoffs October 31, with the Titans and the Warriors kicking off at 1:30 at Titan Field.