Box Score
Heading into the first game of the season, the St. Catherine University soccer team had high expectations for a strong, successful season and lots of energy about the potential of a large first-year class of players.
Today, every member of the Wildcats was instrumental in a huge 7-1 win over UW-Superior to kick off the 2012 season in Duluth, Minn., and second-year Head Coach
Chris Citowicki couldn't be happier.
“It was a very good first game,” said Citowicki. “All the things we have been working on finally came through. It's not quite perfect yet, but it was a great effort by everyone. Everyone played and everyone played well.”
The Wildcat charge started early when just 39 seconds into the game senior
Christina Paik (Beaverton, Ore.) scored on a pass from first-year
Hannah Brown (Burnsville, Minn.) to put the Wildcats up 1-0. From there, the Wildcats took the driver's seat and never looked back.
Paik ended the game the same way she started, netting her second goal on the day off a pass from another first-year,
Elly Leyva (). Leyva was the only player on the day to record two assists.
The biggest point-getter on the day was junior
Lensa Gurmessa (Minneapolis, Minn.) who had two goals and one assist totaling five points. Returners
Brianna Coulter (Burnsville, Minn.) and
Nina Bukowski (Two Harbors, Minn.) also contributed to the scoring surge with one goal a piece. Haley Messiner (St. Paul, MInn.) was the lone first-year to score a goal in the contest.
The Wildcats saw goals from five different players, while nine players contributed to the team's overall point total for the day. As a team, the Wildcats managed to put 17 shots toward UW-Superior goalkeeper Kalea Hatlewick, who came up with 10 saves.
“It was a great team performance today and there is a lot of excitement surrounding the win,” said Citowicki. “We're really looking forward to building off of today's win and coming out strong again tomorrow.”
The Wildcats open up at home against Jamestown College at 4:30 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.
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