ST. PAUL, Minn. – The St. Catherine University soccer team earned a 2-0 shutout victory over the College of Saint Benedict on Saturday afternoon at St. Kate's Field. Goals from Jaidyn Richter and Charlotte Willems, combined with a strong defensive effort, helped the Wildcats improve to 5-3 overall and 2-1 in Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) play.
The Wildcats controlled the offensive tempo throughout the first half, outshooting the Bennies 6-1 and earning five corner kicks. St. Kate's broke through in the 44th minute when Richter found the back of the net off an assist from Ceci Emery, giving the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage heading into halftime.
St. Catherine carried that momentum into the second half, creating several early scoring opportunities. In the 56th minute, Willems doubled the Wildcats' lead with a goal assisted by Lydia Benson and Bella Meier, extending the advantage to 2-0.
The Wildcats continued to pressure Saint Benedict throughout the remainder of the match, finishing with a 13-2 advantage in shots, including an 8-1 edge in shots on goal. Willems led the offensive effort with four shots, including three on target, while Emily Olson added two shots.
Defensively, the Wildcats limited the Bennies to just two shots over 90 minutes. Goalkeeper Brianna Valdez recorded one save to secure the shutout, while the St. Catherine back line prevented Saint Benedict from generating consistent scoring opportunities.
The Wildcats are home again on Sunday hosting University of Wisconsin-Stout at 1 pm.
