SAINT PETER, Minn. — The Gustavus women's soccer team entered Saturday's home MIAC contest against Macalester seeking its first conference victory. Unfortunately for the Gusties, despite tallying 12 shots on goal against the Scots, Macalester prevailed with the win, a 1-0 setback at the Gustie Soccer Field.
Gustavus maintained steady offensive pressure on the Scots all game, but were met by Macalester keeper Abigail Heuga at each turn. In the first half, Heuga made a pair of acrobatic saves, denying
Lillian Selberg and
Cambelle Waldspurger (Mahtomedi, Minn.) of all-but guaranteed goals. Heuga made two quick saves to keep the Gusties off the board midway through the first.
Macalester's Julia Hanson scored the only goal of the game at the end of the half, converting on the Scots' first shot of the game. Hanson beat first-year Gustie goalkeeper
Katelyn Olson (Cloquet, Minn.), playing in just her second collegiate start,
for the 1-0 lead to close out the first 45.
The Gusties certainly weren't deterred by the goal, emerging with more offensive pressure in the second half. Heuga stayed busy, as the Gusties put eight more shots toward the goal, getting two more on frame and one off the post before the end of the game. The Scot defense kept the Gusties from the back of the net, though, dealing Gustavus its second MIAC loss in as many games.
Waldspurger led the Gustie offense with five shots on goal, a new career high.
Makenna Huetten added a pair of her own, while
Callie Patraw (Elk River, Minn.),
Sara Kugler (Lakeville, Minn.),
Brianna Monahan (Edina, Minn.),
Kaitlyn Brandt (Blaine, Minn.), and
Ellen Becken (Prior Lake, Minn.) each added one for a combined 12 on goal.
"To be honest, we don't think we could have played much better. Except for putting the ball in the back of the net, we controlled every aspect of the game," said Head Coach
Laura Burnett-Kurie. "Our team played brilliantly in possession, created numerous dangerous opportunities, and fought until the final second. We made our Gustie family proud today but unfortunately, soccer can be an unforgiving sport.
"Overall, we are so proud of this team and the energy they brought from the bench and on the field. We have a quick turnaround to tomorrow, where we hope we can play with the same freedom we did today."
The Gusties, now 3-3 overall and 0-2 in MIAC play, host University of Dubuque tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Gustie Soccer Field.
