The 2015 St. Catherine University soccer season has definitely been memorable with a list of program-record achievements. After setting a record for overall and Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) wins, the Wildcats crossed another thing off the list by reaching the MIAC postseason for the first time ever.
Unfortunately, though, the Wildcats will have to wait to cross off its first postseason win after they couldn't get into rhythm and fell 2-0 against No. 4-seed Augsburg College in the MIAC playoff quarterfinal Tuesday afternoon in Minneapolis.
The Auggies had an advantage over the Wildcats in every category boasting a 16-10 lead in shots and 7-4 advantage in corner kicks. The Wildcats had two corner kick opportunities in the opening two minutes, but the Auggies took over control of play firing several shots in the direction of MIAC Athlete-of-the-Week
Danielle Mendez (Bloomington, Minn./Academy of Holy Angels).
Then, in the 20th minute, Carter Denison got the Auggies on the board when she headed in a corner kick from Nora Edelen to put the Wildcats down 1-0. The Auggies then added an insurance goal in the 53rd minute from the league's leading scorer Marie Fitzgerald. The Wildcats added pressure in the second half with several opportunities near Auggie keeper Marissa Guillou, but they couldn't find a way to score before falling 2-0 on the road.
Mendez had another big performance in goal for the Wildcats with five saves, while the team came up with an additional save.
Ellen Kokes (Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson) led the Wildcat attack with four shots, while
Hannah Okerstrom (Bayport, Minn./Stillwater).
The Wildcats conclude their season with a record-setting 12-6-1 overall record. They finished with a school record 7-4 mark in conference play for fifth int he standings. The Wildcats were led by a class of seniors who left an impressive mark on the Wildcat program. Mendez ends her career with a school-record 19 shutouts and 1.44 goals against average. She compiled 11 wins in goal this season and 31 in her four years as the Wildcats' starter.
Elly Leyva (San Jacinto, Calif./San Jacinto) ends her career with 44 career points – fifth-most in program history and second-most since the Wildcats joined the MIAC. She also set a school record for assists in a season since joining the MIAC with seven. Leyva also earned a place as the team's must clutch player scoring four career game-winning overtime goals in her four years. She also was a All-MIAC Honorable Mention as a first-year.
Kokes ends her career with 20 career points after ranking second and third for the Wildcats over the last two seasons, respectively. She was a 2014 All-MIAC Honorable Mention selection and finishes 2015 with 10 points.
Hannah Brown (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville South) graduates as the Wildcats' first All-MIAC selection since 2009 after finishing with six points as a junior. She ends her career with eight points despite missing most of her sophomore campaign due to injury.
The Wildcats also graduate
Grace Lowry (Minneapolis, Minn./South) and
Carly Novak (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Cathedral) who have been four-year contributors to the Wildcats' success, as well as
Ashton Weber (Sioux Falls, S.D/Bishop O'Gorman) and
Ali Baumgartner (Shoreview, Minn./Roseville) who served as student assistant coaches this season after career-ending injuries.
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