SAINT PETER, Minn. – Saturday was a day to remember at the Gustie Soccer Field for 10 graduating seniors, as the team and athletic department celebrated their commitment to the women's soccer program over the last four years. But the game was extra special for
Gabriela Rodriguez (Sr., Waseca), who scored the game-winning goal – her first of the season – to help the Gusties (7-4-4, 2-4-2 MIAC) earn a crucial MIAC victory over Concordia.
The Cobbers (8-5-0, 4-4-0 MIAC) entered the game in the top four of the conference standings, fresh off a victory over Saint Benedict, who defeated the Gusties a week earlier. The visitors took the field with some momentum remaining, dominating the first 10 minutes of play over the Gusties, forcing keeper
Katelyn Olson (So., Cloquet) to make a pair of early saves in the game's opening plays. Olson was up to the challenge, though, stifling every Cobber attempt. A
Payton Mahady (Jr., Minnetonka) shot off the crossbar helped shift the tides, moving the needle in favor of the Gusties, who rifled off six more shots before the end of the half.
Gustavus continued to control possession after the break, totaling an additional 10 shot attempts on Cobber keeper Kaitlin Petrich. Mahady continued to lead the offensive charge, as the junior launched an almost sure goal toward the Cobber net. Mahady's ball sailed toward the crossbar and was just tipped out by the fingertips of Petrich to keep the score deadlocked in minute 62.
Lillian Selberg (Sr., Minneapolis) and
Haillee Wilson (Jr., Ashland, Wis.) tallied a pair of chances in the minutes following, but Rodriguez was the eventual hero, scoring the game's only goal at 85:36.
Makenna Huetten (Sr., Eagan) started the play, breaking up the Cobber attack in front of Olson and clearing the ball across the field. Selberg picked the ball up off a Concordia turnover, sending it left to Waldspurger, who one-touched a pass to a wide-open Rodriguez, who drilled her shot into the lower left corner to beat a diving Petrich. With under five minutes to play, the Gustie defense handled every final push from the Cobbers, declining Concordia of a shot attempt to seal the 1-0 victory and shutout.
"What a way to celebrate our 10 incredible seniors! No better way than a big 1-0 lead and another shutout," said Head Coach
Laura Burnett-Kurie. "We thought the team did exceptional to work through things early on to control the run of play for a good chunk of the first half. Second half we adapted well and continued to find dangerous ways to build. It finally paid off late in the game with a fantastic combination to put Gabby in a great spot to finish, and she did just that. Super fun goal to score and then we did exceptional to close out the game."
The Gusties collected a total of 18 shots and eight on goal, with a balanced offensive attack. 12 of 16 players that saw time on the pitch collected a shot attempt, with all eight on goal coming from different Gusties. Olson finished with seven saves for her seventh shutout of the season.
The 10 Gustie seniors that were celebrated included Rodriguez, Selberg, Huetten,
Callie Patraw (Elk River),
Bella Bacigalupo (Duluth),
Kirstin Poppen (Verona, Wis.),
Lucie Henrich (Shoreview),
Ellen Becken (Prior Lake),
Brianna Monahan (Medina), and
Jordan Oelkers (Byron). The 10 have combined for 31 goals and 27 assists in their careers, as well as thousands of minutes on the pitch wearing the Black & Gold.
"Massive congrats to our incredible group of seniors who have inspired us for the last four years," Burnett-Kurie continued. "Their positivity, energy and passion for the game shines every single day. They are an incredible group and deserve this result today. We are so proud of them."
The Gusties continue their climb up the MIAC standings on Tuesday, hosting St. Olaf (10-2-2, 5-2-1 MIAC) for their final home game of the season. The team will take the trip to Bethel (6-5-3, 2-4-2 MIAC) on Saturday and St. Scholastica (0-12-4, 0-7-1 MIAC) the following week to wrap up the 2024 regular season.
