After dropping a heartbreaking loss in the final seconds of overtime to the University of St. Thomas a week ago, the St. Catherine University soccer team was hungry for its first Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) win of the 2014 season but would have its work cut out against a Hamline University. Fortunately, the Wildcats finally came out on the winning side of extra minutes with a 2-1 decision thanks to a two-goal performance from Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Shoreview) Saturday in St. Paul. 

Heading into Saturday's contest, the Wildcats had been shut out in both of their conference games this season, while the Pipers had allowed just three goals all season heading into Saturday. The Wildcats had also scored just one goal in their last three meetings with the Pipers – all three resulting in losses. The cards may have been stacked against the Wildcats, but their effort helped them to their first MIAC win and third overall this season. 

In the opening minutes of play, the Wildcats controlled play of the game early and nearly got on the board first when Gabby Scundi (Maplewood, Minn./Hill Murray) blasted a shot high that Hamline goalkeeper Erin Urbanowicz narrowly punched out of the goal to keep the score even. 

Then, Hamline took advantage of a Wildcat foul when Corinne Henning put in her third goal of the season off a free kick from Kristen Berry at 19:26. The Pipers continued to hold off the Wildcat attack to take a 1-0 lead into halftime. 

However, the Wildcats couldn't be held off entirely as Okerstrom took as shot off a throw in just outside the top corner of the box that sailed into the far right corner of the net past Urbanowicz – evening the score at 1-1 with just under 30 minutes to play in regulation. 

Wildcat goalkeeper Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) kept the Wildcats in the game making several big challenges in addition to her two saves on the day to help force an overtime period. 

With momentum on their side, the Wildcats pressured Hamline in front of the net with several big chances before Okerstrom ended the game with her third tally of the season at 99:18. Elizabeth Larson (Burnsville, Minn./Burnsville) and Alex Boucher (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) picked up their first points in Wildcat uniforms with the assists on the game-winner from Okerstrom. 

With the win, the Wildcats improve to 3-4-1 on the season and 1-2-0 in the MIAC. They return to action Wednesday travelling to take on Carleton College at 4 p.m. in Northfield, Minn. 

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