SAINT PETER, Minn. – In an epic second half comeback, the Gustavus women's soccer team (6-4-4, 1-4-2 MIAC) battled St. Catherine to a 3-3 tie on a windy Wednesday afternoon at the Gustie Soccer Field. The Wildcats, who are without a loss in the conference season, scored two first half goals and another in the opening minutes of the second, but the Gusties chipped away at the lead with a trio of goals within 23 minutes of the second half.
St. Catherine (7-2-4, 4-0-3 MIAC), a perennial MIAC powerhouse, started the scoring early, as Natalie Pfleger helped the Wildcats to a 1-0 lead in minute 15. A Wildcat pass found its way through the Gustie defense to the foot of Pfleger at the top of the box, who scored her sixth of the season into the top left corner. Ayah Makled doubled the lead 14 minutes later, as the Wildcats made six complete passes to systematically make their way down the field. Claire Cater sent a cross into the box, which Makled headed into the goal for a 2-0 lead that would hold until the end of the half.
The Wildcats thought they put the game away just a minute into the second, as Ari Green – who scored all four goals against the Gusties in the team's 4-0 loss last season – added her eighth of the season with a goal under the arm of
Katelyn Olson (So., Cloquet) for a 3-0 advantage.
Minute 46, down by three – but the game was far from over.
Ellen Becken (Sr., Prior Lake) broke Kate Praetz's shutout, responding to the third SCU goal six minutes later. Becken forced Praetz to play the ball to her defender, but
Callie Patraw (Sr., Elk River) stepped in to force a turnover, sending a pass to Becken just outside the box. Becken collected the ball and sent the team's first tally into the top right corner. The goal ended a five-game, six-year scoring drought for the Gusties against St. Catherine.
Just 11 minutes later,
Makenna Huetten (Sr., Eagan) cut the lead to one off a Gustie corner kick. The ball, sent into the box by
Cambelle Waldspurger (Jr., Mahtomedi), bounced off multiple players, finding its way to Huetten who drilled it into the top of the goal.
Patraw scored the equalizer, albeit unconventional, in minute 74 to tie the game at its eventual final 3-3. Taking a pass from
Taylor Schlauderaff (Jr., Owatonna) just past the half-way line, Patraw sent a bouncing ball in the general direction of the Wildcat goal. A few hops made it difficult for Praetz to play, as the ball slipped between her fingers and into the goal.
Olson did her part in goal to keep the score tied through the final 16 minutes, making a trio of impressive saves, including one off a long free kick that carried through the wind and another off a handball just outside the box, to help the Gusties earn a crucial MIAC point.
"Unbelievable grit and belief. This team was the definition of both today," said Head Coach
Laura Burnett-Kurie. "They stuck to the game plan, problem solved as needed, dug their heels in, and came up with big plays time and time again. We have been talking about scoring the next goal and they truly locked onto that today and it worked out well with a the huge comeback."
The Gusties totaled 10 shots and five on goal, three of which came from the goal scorers, while
Haillee Wilson (Jr., Ashland, Wis.) and
Payton Mahady (Jr., Minnetonka) accounted for the others. Olson finished with a total of six saves between the pipes, while SCU posted 20 shot attempts.
"We have been playing well, but on the tough side of close games. We challenged ourselves to get to that next level, and to have the tenacity and optimism to push forward regardless of being down 3-0 is absolutely outstanding. We are so proud of every person in this program today."
The Gusties host Concordia (8-4-0, 4-3 MIAC) on Saturday, where they will celebrate their 10 seniors on Senior Day at the Gustie Soccer Field.
