WICHITA – The Jets Women's soccer team continued their four game home stretch on Sunday with a 1-0 win against the Nebraska Kearney Lopers. Both teams came into the match hunting for their first win after dealing with some tough MIAA competition this season.
 
The Jets move to a 1-10-1 record, as this marks Newman's first win of the season and first win as the new Head Coach at Newman for Dylan Gruntzel. On the Jets' performance today, Coach Gruntzel said "Proud of the girls and their efforts today. They dug deep to preserve the shut out. I'm very proud of this team."
 
First half
 
The game opened up with some stellar defensive play from Newman as they dealt with some early pressure from an aggressive UNK team in the form of a pair of corner kicks and a shot to low center, all within the first 5 minutes of the game. The Jets would rally to start up some back and forth action for the next 8 minutes before a clutch stop by Junior keeper Jordan Webster set up a run down midfield. Senior Morgan Houston would be fouled on that run, creating a free kick opportunity for Newman that would cause chaos in the UNK box. It was Junior Rachel Wolecki who would be the ultimate opportunist in that moment, as she caught a bounce and punted the ball in to give Newman a 1-0 lead in the 16^th minute of the game.
 
It would be a long and challenging game after, as UNK continued to fight back and forth with the Jets and create some dangerous opportunities. Webster and the Newman back line refused to let anything by however, finishing the day with a clean sheet. After some tough back and forth action for the next 24 minutes of the half, Newman would keep the ball on UNK's side of the field for the final 5 minutes to go into halftime with a 1-0 lead.
 
Second half
 
The final half of play would see things go right back to the way they were in the first, with each team fighting to get the ball past the others midfield. Shortly into the half, the Jets would again push downfield to start a volley of shots in the 53^rd minute, making sure UNK still felt their presence. Newman would find themselves back on the defensive side of things 20 minutes later as Sophomore defender Morgan Blackwell notched a block to keep the Lopers out of the net again.
 
The Jets wouldn't get away with an easy win though, as both teams fought back and forth all the way up to the final whistle. With yet another save by Webster in the 87^th minute, UNK would be shut out and the game would finish in the midfield as Newman took the match 1-0 and moved to a 1-4 record in MIAA conference play.
 
Next up
 
The Jets will hope to hold onto their momentum and find some more success at Wilkins Field when they host the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats to continue a 4 game home stretch on Friday, October 7^th, at 7PM.