Coming off a tough Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) loss Wednesday, things weren't going to get much easier for the St. Catherine University soccer team in returning home to face perennial powerhouse College of Saint Benedict. Despite making a comeback in the second half, the Wildcats couldn't hold off the Blazers in the final minutes in falling 3-2 in front of a home crowd Saturday afternoon in St. Paul.
The Blazers wasted no time jumping out to an early 1-0 lead when Alyssa Hoffman received a pass in front of a Wildcat defender, made a move around keeper
Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels) and scored a goal on the open net just 5:33 into the opening half.
The Wildcats couldn't generate any offense and allowed the Blzers to continue mounting pressure before Taylor Hedin received a pass from Gracie Vaughn inside the box to beat Mendez low to the right corner in the 19th minute.
Down, 2-0 in only the 20th minute, the Wildcats received new life when the team's hottest offensive weapon in
Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Stillwater) cut the Blazer lead in half to 2-1. The junior forward received a free kick from
Allie Boucher (Stillwater, Minn./Stillwater) just outside the box and quickly shot it past the Blazers' goalkeeper Heather Kaluzniak who challenged the shot.
The Wildcats started off much stronger in the second half and continued to pressure the Blazers until they finally managed to even the score at 2-2 – again thanks to heroics from Okerstrom in the 76th minute. First, Okerstrom took an initial shot inside the box that was blocked by a defender, before
Elly Leyva (San Jacinto, Calif./San Jacinto had her rebound saved by Kaluzniak. Finally, Okerstrom found the equalizer and her second of the game burying Leyva's rebound.
The game looked as if it was headed to overtime, but the Blazers managed to score a decisive third goal with less than eight minutes remaining when Valerie Clintsman scored off a loose ball inside the box from Hoffman.
Mendez had a strong game in goal holding off the strong offensive attack from the Blazers with a season-high seven saves. Okerstom's two goals brings her season total to a league- and team-best eight. She also has a team-high 18 points, while Leyva's assist brings her to 10 on the season.
Okerstrom led the Wildcat offense with four shots and two on goal, while Leyva had two with one on goal.
Shannon Hickey (Eden Prairie, Minn./Visitation) and
Iryna Talkachova (Shoreview, Minn./Shattuck-St. Mary's) each had a shot on goal.
With the loss, the Wildcats fall to 4-4-1 on the season and 1-3 in the MIAC. They are set to face Augsburg College Wednesday for a 3:30 p.m. matchup at home in St. Paul.
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