Notables
-First MIAC Playoff appearance for both teams
-First postseason PK shootout for CSS since 2016 (L to Minnesota Morris)
-First MIAC postseason appearance in school history
-Game officially a 0-0 draw
-Gittins makes a career-high 11 saves in final collegiate game
WINONA, Minn. (
csssaints.com) – The No. 6 seed St. Scholastica women's soccer team played 110 scoreless minutes against the No. 3 Saint Mary's University on Monday night in the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) Playoff Quarterfinals. However, the Saints would fall in the penalty kick shootout 4-1 to see its first season in the MIAC come to an end.
How It Happened
The Saints did not get their first shot attempt until the 33
rd minute as the Cardinals (13-4-2) controlled much of the possession. Despite Saint Mary's in possession for much of the first half the Saints had the quality chances, but remained scoreless after one half. SMU outshot the Saints 13-2 in the first half.
The second half was much of the same as the Cardinals had a great chance in the 59
th minute that just sailed over the crossbar. After 90 minutes the game remained scoreless.
The two, 10-minute overtime session also did not determine a winning side so to determine who would advance to play the second seed College of Saint Benedict on Wednesday would be determined by penalty kicks.
Saint Mary's went first and converted their attempt.
Morgan Friday (Duluth, Minn./Shattuck St. Mary's HS) then stepped up and buried her attempt to tie the shootout at 1-1. SMU converted its second attempt, while the Saints missed the target high on their second attempt. After the Cardinals made their third attempt and the SMU goalkeeper made the save on CSS' third attempt. All Saint Mary's had to do was make its next attempt to advance, which they would do to eliminate the Saints by a 4-1 shootput score.
Goalkeeping
(CSS)
Taelynn Gittins (Hugo, Minn./Mahtomedi HS) – 11 saves
(SMU) Alexis Nguyen – 2 saves
End of Season
The Saints finish with a 4-10-5 overall record and went 4-5-2 in its inaugural season in the MIAC. The Saints say goodbye to seniors
Taelynn Gittins (Hugo, Minn./Mahtomedi HS),
Cailin Capra (Rice Lake, Wis./Rice Lake HS),
Grace Beck (East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks HS),
Kaiya Quam (Oakdale, Minn./Mounds View HS),
Morgan Friday (Duluth, Minn./Shattuck St. Mary's HS) and
McKenzie Nelson (Duluth, Minn./Duluth East HS).
For future information on the St. Scholastica women's soccer program; keep checking csssaints.com
