ST. PAUL, Minn. — The St. Catherine University soccer team controlled much of the attacking play Friday evening at St. Kate's Field, but an early Willamette goal proved to be the difference as the Wildcats fell 1-0.
St. Catherine finished with a 16-7 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks while putting five attempts on frame. Willamette goalkeeper Isabella Arias-Lasalde stopped all five shots on goal to preserve the shutout.
Willamette struck in the eighth minute when Samantha Rodriguez found the net off an assist from Haleigh Seeling, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 advantage just 8:17 into the match.
The Wildcats responded by generating sustained pressure throughout the remainder of the opening half. Bella Meier produced St. Catherine's first attempt in the sixth minute, and the Wildcats went on to take nine first-half shots compared with just three for Willamette.
St. Kate's nearly found the equalizer in the 28th minute when Shannon Corona put an attempt on goal, but Arias-Lasalde made the save. The Wildcats continued to create chances through the closing minutes of the half, including attempts from Ali Owens, Ari Douvier and Jaidyn Richter, but entered halftime trailing by one.
The pressure continued after the break. Meier forced a save in the 55th minute before St. Catherine generated another corner and several additional opportunities midway through the half.
Richter put another shot on target in the 76th minute, and Emily Henaman followed with an attempt on goal in the 85th. Meier created one final quality chance in the 88th minute, but Arias-Lasalde again came up with the stop as Willamette held on for the 1-0 victory.
Meier led the Wildcats with three shots and two shots on goal, while Corona and Richter each recorded two attempts. Henaman also put a shot on frame off the bench.
In goal, Brianna Valdez made five saves over the full 90 minutes, allowing only the early Willamette strike.
Despite the result, St. Catherine generated more than twice as many total shots as the Bearcats and held Willamette scoreless over the final 81-plus minutes.
St. Kate's will travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin on Monday, September 7 taking on St. Norbert College at 1 pm.
