Soccer | Photo by Pexels
Spring sports are underway at Wright State University (WSU), and with several teams playing games at once, it can be hard to keep track. Here is a highlight of the spring season so far, and highlights of some big games to come.
The Raidergang is back!
Wright State baseball was already respected in the preseason, as they were picked to finish first in the Horizon League preseason poll, and infielder Tyler Black was put on a Golden Spikes Award watch list.
For the first matches of their season, the Raiders took on Vanderbilt, the team ranked fourth in the nation by D1 preseason rankings, and with MLB prospect pitchers Kumar Rocker and Jack Leiter, the Raiders were in for a rough match.
The Raiders dropped both games, with game two being a close 0-1 finish
Their next pre-season matches will be on the road against Alabama, and the Raidergang will start their season against the NKU Norse on March 5.
Kickin’ it with Clark, Callahan, Krupp, and Kouadio
Both men’s and women’s soccer has also started, as the women’s team is starting off the season 1-2 after a very close loss to Cleveland State in double overtime, and the men’s team is starting off 2-1 after a tough 0-1 loss to the projected first place finisher UIC.
For the women’s side, Sydni Callahan, Reagan Clark, and Josie Krupp have shared the scoring for the Raiders’ three goals in their first three games, and have made their shots count, with Wright State’s shot-on-goal percentage currently the best in the league at 0.607.
Jessica Seward has made big saves for Wright State’s defense, totaling 11 saves in their double-overtime game against the Vikings, leading the Horizon League in saves per game.
The next big game for the Lady Raiders will be on March 3, as they look to upset the undefeated UIC Flames in Dayton at Alumni Field.
Joe Kouadio has made the offensive difference for the men’s side, averaging a goal per game so far in league play.
The forward from London, England has also earned himself a Horizon League Offensive Player of the Week award after his two goals against Detroit Mercy secured them their first win of the season in overtime.
The Raiders were picked third in the HL preseason poll, only behind Oakland and UIC, their only loss so far.
The next HL game for Men’s soccer is away on Feb. 28, against the 2-2 Milwaukee Panthers.
Run, Raiders, Run!
Cross Country had their first and only meet leading up to the Horizon League championships, with Wright State runners sweeping that week’s Horizon League awards.
Senior Abigail Halsey and Junior Max Pettit led the Raiders in their respective events on Feb. 6, and secured both men’s and women’s teams a second-place finish at the Raider Invitational.
With their next meet at Butler cancelled, the Horizon League Championships on March 4 will be the last race of the season for Cross Country.
Indoors, the women’s track team has broken over 30 personal bests so far through the first meets of the season, and is set to compete for the HL Indoor Championship over the weekend.
After 347 Days
After nearly a full year without putting on the same uniform, the Wright State Golf Team headed to Savannah, Georgia for the Invitational at Savannah Harbor.
Freshman Mikkel Mathiesen finished seventh overall, and led the Raiders to a fifth place team finish out of fifteen.
Wright State heads back to Georgia in almost two weeks for the Sea Palms Invitational from March 4-6.
