The St. Catherine University soccer team found itself on a four-game winning streak thanks to impressive performances from senior Elly Leyva (San Jacinto, Calif./San Jacinto) over the last two weeks, but knew the streak would tough to hold onto against a University of St. Thomas squad that has suffered just one Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) loss this season. Despite tying the game with just over seven minutes to play, the Wildcats came up on the short end against the Tommies who scored with less than two minutes to go for a 2-1 decision over the Wildcats Saturday afternoon in St. Paul. 

In front of a home crowd, the Wildcats controlled every bit of action throughout the entire 90-minute contest. They outshot the Tommies 16-13 and held an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks, but couldn't find a way to hold off the Tommies late-game surge. 

After over 76 minutes of play, the Tommies broke the scoreless tie when Mallory DeBoom beat Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) to the far left side to put the Tommies in control. 

That was until Leyva continued her hot-streak and beat goalie Tarynn Theilig when she headed in a loose ball that rolled into the back of the net tying the game in the 83rd minute making overtime seem eminent. 

However, the Tommies had other plans. On just their second corner kick of the game, the Tommies put themeselves back on top in the 89th minute when Victoria Vargaas scored on the kick from Taylor Skorik. 

Mendez finished the game with two saves in goal for the Wildcats, while Leyva led the Wildcats with two shots on goal and had four total attempts. Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Stillwater) had five total chances and Iryna Talkachova (Shoreview, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's) had three shots. Leyva now leads the Wildcats with 20 points and has recorded at least a point in each of the Wildcats' last six games. 

With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 8-5-1 on the season and 4-4 in the MIAC. The Wildcats return to action Wednesday in a 4 p.m. home non-conference game against the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in St. Paul. 

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