LA CROSSE, Wis. – Anna Manion (Superior, WI/Superior HS) recorded a hat trick as the College of St. Scholastica women's soccer team battled Viterbo University to the final minutes in a 4-3 loss Tuesday afternoon at the Outdoor Athletic Complex.
St. Scholastica (0-1-0) struck first in the 15th minute. Julia Lewis (Maple Grove, MN/Maple Grove HS) set up Manion, who found the back of the net at 14:06 to give the Saints an early 1-0 advantage.
Viterbo responded with two goals just under two minutes apart. Evelyn Shaw equalized in the 28th minute before Abby Elliott put the V-Hawks in front, 2-1, at 29:34. The hosts carried that advantage into halftime.
The V-Hawks extended their lead to 3-1 less than four minutes into the second half on a goal from Ashlee Tupper, but the Saints answered quickly. Manion scored her second of the afternoon at 54:51, pulling St. Scholastica back within one at 3-2.
Viterbo regained a two-goal cushion when Elliott Bell scored in the 77th minute, but St. Scholastica continued to push forward.
Manion completed the hat trick with 4:43 remaining, finishing a feed from Gianna Hansen (Proctor, MN/Proctor High School) to cut the deficit to 4-3. The Saints continued searching for an equalizer in the closing minutes, but Viterbo held on for the one-goal victory.
Viterbo finished with a 13-8 advantage in shots and a 10-6 edge in shots on goal. Manion accounted for four of the Saints' eight shots, putting all four on target, while Lily Rippie (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Rosemount HS) and Hansen also recorded shots on goal.
Chloe Patrick (Brainerd, MN/Brainerd High School) played all 90 minutes in goal for St. Scholastica and recorded six saves.
Up next, the Saints host North Central University on Friday afternoon at 3:00p.m. for their first home match of the season.
