Notables
-Friday surpasses 50 points for the season
-Friday becomes the fifth Saint to score at least 24 goals in a season
-Nelson scores a goal for the third straight game
-CSS allows no goals in UMAC play for the first time in program history
DULUTH, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The St. Scholastica women's soccer team welcomed rival University of Wisconsin-Superior to Saints Field for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) regular season finale on Tuesday afternoon. A slow first half was the appetizer for an offensive showing for the Saints in the second half, which led to 4-0 CSS victory and the outright UMAC regular season title.
How It Happened
St. Scholastica battled with UW-Superior (6-9-2, 5-2-0 UMAC) for offensive possession for the majority of the first half as CSS outshot the Yellowjackets 7-1, but neither team was able to capitalize on the opportunities. The game was scoreless after 45 minutes of action
The Saints came out early with a strong offensive mindset in the second half. 30 seconds into the half, an
Emily Olson (Grand Rapids, Minn./Grand Rapids HS) corner would find
McKenzie Nelson's (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS) head for the first goal of the afternoon to put the Saints up 1-0. A continued offensive attack would come through again less than three minutes later when
Morgan Friday (Duluth, Minn./Shattuck St. Mary's HS) and Nelson would assist
Kaiya Quam (Oakdale, Minn./Mounds View HS) for a goal to make it 2-0.
A lengthy offensive drought would be broken in the 76
th minute when Friday would cross between multiple defenders for a goal to put St. Scholastica up 3-0. Friday would continue the strong half for the Saints with her second goal of the afternoon in the 80
th minute for the final goal of the game to seal the Saints win 4-0.
Top Performers
The Saints were led offensively by Friday with two goals and an assist. Nelson added a goal and an assist and Quam added a goal to round out the Saints scoring. Olson recorded an assist as well.
Alexa Gothard (Hibbing, Minn./Hibbing HS (Lake Superior College)) recorded the shutout in the net only needing to make one save in the win.
Up Next
St. Scholastica (12-7-0, 8-0-0 UMAC) will hold home field advantage throughout the UMAC Tournament. The Saints will resume play next Wednesday, November 6 in the semifinals of the conference tournament. Game time will be 11 a.m. with an opponent to be determined.
