ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The St. Catherine University soccer team played their first game at home on Saturday evening defeating the visiting St. Norbert College Green Knights 1-0. The non-conference win puts St. Kate's at 2-0 on the season. 

The home opener was off to a slow start on both ends of the pitch not getting a shot on goal for the first five minutes of play. The pace picked up though in the 22nd minute with four shots on goal within three minutes followed by another stretch in the 34th minute. The first half ended at 0-0 with St. Kate's putting eight shots on net to St. Norbert's just two. 

The second half was again controlled by the Wildcats with five shots on goal to the Green Knights one. Senior Natalie Pfleger scored the team's first home goal of the 2025 season off a pass from graduate student Maren Schoeberl in the 62nd minute. 

Pfleger had four shots on goal in 64 minutes followed by Ashley Fugitt, Schoeberl, and Lydia Benson with two each. Brianna Valdez recorded her second consecutive shutout making three saves in 90 minutes. 

The Wildcats will travel to Menomonie to face the University of Wisconsin Stout on Wednesday, September 3. The Blue Devils are coached by former St. Kate's assistant coach Marcos Rodriguez. The Wildcats return to St. Paul to host University of Wisconsin-River Falls on Saturday, September 6 at 1 pm.