Notables
-CSS has now shutout three consecutive UMAC opponents
-Bethany was held without a shot attempt in the 90-minute affair
-The Saints are the No. 2 seed heading into the postseason
-CSS is now 23-1-1 against Bethany Lutheran since 2004
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The College of St. Scholastica women's soccer team will be entering the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) postseason riding a three-game winning streak, with the most recent victory coming Saturday afternoon at Malosky Stadium as it beat the Bethany Lutheran College Vikings by a score of 5-0.
First Half
The regular season finale started quite well for the Saints, as
Taylor Olson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS) netted the first goal of the game just under four minutes in. Olson received the ball off a nice pass from
Becca Rancour (Hutchinson, Minn./Hutchinson HS), then beat the keeper one on one to spark an early lead for CSS.
After tallying an assist on the first goal, Rancour netted her 21st goal of the season in the 34th minute off a pass from
Hannah Zeis (Ashland, Wis./Ashland HS) to extend the Saints lead to 2-0. The rest of the half was quiet for both teams, with neither squad sending a shot for the final ten minutes.
Second Half
The Saints kept the foot on the pedal in the second half, firing 11 shots in the first 20 minutes. Despite the plentiful number of shots, the Saints didn't score again until their 12th shot of the half in the 69th minute when
Rachel Dixon (Superior, Wis./Superior HS) scored off an assist from
Janelle Rouillard (Dayton, Minn./Rogers HS).
Five minutes later, with a shot from
Lexie DeWall (Proctor, Minn./Proctor HS (Morningside)) being saved in between Dixon's goal and the next goal,
Cali Marsaa (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS) put the Saints on top 4-0 after capitalizing on a penalty kick for her first collegiate goal.
Two minutes later, with having just substituted into the game,
Emily Olson (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS) scored the fifth and final goal of the match on a shot that ricocheted off the inside of the post and in.
The win for CSS gives them an overall record of 11-6-3, while boasting an impressive 10-1-1 in conference play. They have also secured the No. 2 seed for the upcoming postseason tournament.
Senior Day
The match marked the regular season finale for five seniors.
Taylor Olson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS),
Kadie Mattson (North Branch, Minn./North Branch HS),
Reigan Struck (Blaine, Minn./Spring Lake Park HS (Bethany Lutheran)),
Taylor Kunkel (Little Falls, Minn./Little Falls HS), and
Cali Marsaa (Duluth, Minn./Duluth Denfeld HS) all suited up for the last time as a Saint in a regular season game.
Up Next
The Saints will now focus on the semifinals of the UMAC Tournament where it will have rematch against the University of Minnesota Morris on Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Saints Field. Morris eliminated the Saints in penalty kicks in last year's UMAC Tournament semifinal at Saints Field.
