Box Score After having the season opener postponed and canceled due to inclement weather and unplayable field conditions, the St. Catherine University soccer team hoped to begin the 2014 season in impressive fashion in front of a large home crowd. Despite outshooting Buena Vista Unviersity and controlling a majority of game play, the Wildcats settled for a 0-0 tie after two overtime sessions Friday afternoon in St. Paul. 

The Wildcats dominated play early in the first half as they fired 10 shots allowing Buena Vista goalie Rachel Novotny to make four saves in the opening 45. The Wildcats had a great opportunity in the 8th minute when Taylor Greathouse (Blaine, Minn./Blaine) nearly buried a goal off a corner kick from Elly Leyva (San Jacinto, Calif./San Jacinto) that hit the crossbar. Greathouse then had another chance off a corner in the 17th minute that was saved by a Beaver defender. 

In the second half, the Wildcats again brought the pressure to the Beavers taking 10 shots, but only managed to get two on goal. Leyva, Nina Bukowski (Two Harbors, Minn./Two Harbors) and first-year Emily Hutchin-Peterson (Maple Grove, Minn./Osseo) each had shots that narrowly sailed above the goal in the opening 20 minutes of the second half of regulation that could have been the difference makers.

The Beavers managed to hang on to force two additional overtime periods to shutout the Wildcats and remain undefeated on the season. The Wildcats held an astonishing 15-1 advantage in corner kicks – 10 of which came in extra minutes – and a 28-4 advantage in shots. 

Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) held steady in goal for the Wildcats stopping two Beaver attempts at the net, while the Beavers' Novotny finished the game with six saves. Leyva led the Wildcat charge with five shots and two on goal, while Bukowski had four attempts and one on goal. Greathouse, Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Stillwater) and Julia Zyla (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Trinity School at River Ridge) each had three shots with one each making it to the net. 

The Wildcats return to action with another non-conference match up against UW-River Falls Sunday at 4 p.m. in River Falls, Wisconsin. 

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