University of West Alabama

After a tough loss to the University of St. Thomas, the St. Catherine University soccer team hoped to recover with a strong week of games and find a way to earn its first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) victory of the season. And thanks in large part to a huge performance from Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Stillwater), the Wildcats did just that with a 2-1 overtime victory over Hamline Saturday. For her big week, Okerstrom has been named the Wildcat Athlete of the Week. 

The Wildcats defeated the Pipers for the first time since 2010 Saturday afternoon in front of a home crowd and did so in exciting fashion coming from behind. The Pipers scored early in the first half to put the Wildcats back on their toes and down 1-0 heading into halftime. But it wasn't long before Okerstrom got the Wildcats on the board when she scored off a throw in sailing a ball into the top right corner beating Piper goalkeeper Erin Urbanowicz. 

Then, the Wildcats and Pipers played to an even 1-1 score until the end of regulation for the team's third overtime contest this season. However, Okerstrom wasn't goign to let her team settle for a tie as she beat Urbanowicz again with 48 seconds remaining in the first ovetime to lift the Wildcats to their first conference victory of the season. 

Okerstrom also reocrded four shots in the Wildcats 1-0 non-conference win over Central College on Tuesday. She finished the week with six shots and three on goal. Her seven points this season leads the Wildcats, as does her three goals. Okerstrom is also one of only 11 players to have recorded two or more goals in conference games so far this season. 

Okerstrom and the Wildcats return to conference action Wednesday against Carleton College. They travel to Northfield, Minnesota, for a 4 p.m. kickoff with the Knights who remain undfeated in MIAC games .