DULUTH, Minn. – Saturday was a day of milestones for the Gustavus women's soccer team, who took the trip north to Duluth to close out the regular season with a MIAC match-up against St. Scholastica (0-15-4, 0-10-1 MIAC). Five different Gusties scored in a 5-1 victory that helped the team clinch a spot in the 2024 MIAC Playoffs, while the win marked career victory No. 100 for Head Coach
Laura Burnett-Kurie. The Gusties (9-4-5, 4-4-3 MIAC) return to MIAC postseason play for the first time since the 2021 season.
"We are so proud of this team – we went into today's game focused on ourselves and playing the best 90 minutes we could," said Burnett-Kurie. "We talked about focusing on all the little details that allow us to play with freedom, creativity, and joy. The team did just that today. We moved the ball beautifully, pressed in areas we wanted to press, and finished some outstanding opportunities."
After 20 minutes of scoreless play,
Callie Patraw (Sr., Elk River, Minn.) broke the deadlock, taking a feed from
Cambelle Waldspurger (Jr., Mahtomedi, Minn.) to beat St. Scholastica keeper Gracie Meagher high left in minute 19. Just 35 seconds later, Waldspurger scored the eventual game-winner, collecting a pass from
Kaitlyn Brandt (Jr., Blaine, Minn.) give the Gusties a quick 2-0 advantage.
Following Waldspurger's tally, the Gusties turned right back around after kick-off, as
Brianna Monahan (Sr., Medina, Minn.) systematically moved the ball down the field. Monahan sent a cross into the box, which deflected off the hand of a CSS defender, setting up a Gustie PK.
Lucie Henrich (Sr., Shoreview, Minn.) got the nod, and, after 45 games and over 3,300 minutes on the pitch, Henrich netted the first goal of her collegiate career, sneaking her shot under the arm of Meagher for a 3-0 advantage heading into the break.
Ellen Becken (Sr., Prior Lake, Minn.) carried the Gusties' momentum into the second half, scoring her seventh of the season in minute 60 to extend the lead to four over CSS. After a series of Gustie connections, the ball found its way to
Payton Mahady (Jr., Minnetonka, Minn.) who launched a shot over the Scholastica defense, which was headed into the goal by Becken.
Grace Dlouhy (So., Saint Peter, Minn.) added another collegiate first shortly after, scoring with a bit of flair for the fifth and final for the Gusties.
Haillee Wilson (Jr., Ashland, Wis.) collected the ball in the midfield and sent a pass to the foot of
Lillian Selberg (Sr., Minneapolis, Minn.). Selberg, who is on a four-game point streak of her own, sent a shot toward the Saints' goal and off the crossbar. Dlouhy collected the rebound perfectly, heading the ball into the left corner for the first of her career. St. Scholastica broke
Katelyn Olson's (So., Cloquet, Minn.) shutout in the final minutes of the game, scoring with under five to play, but it was far too little and far too late, as the Gusties secured their ninth win of the season, 5-1.
As a team, Gustavus totaled 29 shots and 15 on goal, with 14 different players collecting a shot attempt in the victory. Waldspurger led the charge with four shots and two on goal, as well as her sixth goal of the season and a pair of assists for a four-point day in just 38 minutes on the pitch. Olson made five saves in the victory.
"We are playing super well right now and truly believing in the potential of this team. To have the fortitude to finish the season strong and clinch a playoff spot is well deserved. Plus it was fun seeing all ten seniors finish out the game on the field together today!"
It's a quick turnaround for the Gusties heading into the postseason, as the team will face the No. 3-seeded Saint Mary's Cardinals (12-2-4, 8-1-2 MIAC) on Monday at 3 p.m. in Winona. The Gusties fell to Saint Mary's 2-1 on the road on Sept. 25 earlier this season. St. Catherine (12-2-4, 8-0-3 MIAC) and Carleton (14-1-5, 8-0-3 MIAC) shared the conference regular season title, while St. Olaf (13-2-3, 7-2-2 MIAC) and Augsburg (8-4-5, 4-2-5 MIAC) round out the playoff field, with both quarterfinals to be played Monday afternoon.
