DULUTH, Minn. – The College of St. Scholastica women's soccer team continued its strong start to the season Tuesday afternoon, shutting out Crown College 3-0 at Kenny Harkins Field to improve to 2-1 overall.
With the victory, the Saints moved above the .500 mark for the first time since May 8, 2021, when St. Scholastica completed the COVID-delayed 2020 season with a perfect 9-0 record. It marks the first time CSS has held a winning overall record since joining the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC).
St. Scholastica controlled Tuesday's match from start to finish, holding Crown without a shot while finishing with a 20-0 advantage in total shots, including 13 attempts on goal. The Saints also earned all 11 corner kicks in the match.
After creating several opportunities early, the Saints broke through in the 34th minute. Celia Prenier (Esko, MN/Esko HS) found the net at 33:16 with assists from Lily Rippie (Inver Grove Heights, MN/Rosemount HS) and Anna Manion (Superior, WI/Superior HS) to give CSS a 1-0 advantage.
Rippie doubled the lead just over seven minutes later, scoring at 40:34 off an assist from Mariah Hernesman (Duluth, MN/Duluth Marshall HS). The goal sent the Saints into halftime with a 2-0 advantage after outshooting Crown 11-0 over the opening 45 minutes.
St. Scholastica added its third goal eight minutes into the second half when Gianna Hansen (Proctor, MN/Proctor High School) found the back of the net at 53:13. Hansen has now scored in each of the Saints' last two games.
Rippie finished with a goal and an assist, while Prenier and Hansen each added goals. Manion and Hernesman recorded assists. Addie Aleshire (Fridley, MN/Fridley HS) played all 90 minutes in goal to earn the shutout without needing to make a save.
The shutout was the second straight for the Saints, who have outscored their opponents 8-0 over their first two home matches of the season.
St. Scholastica will now head to Dubuque, Iowa, for a pair of games, beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. against the University of Dubuque. The Saints will remain in Dubuque to face Loras College at 11 a.m. Saturday.
