SAINT PETER, Minn. - The Gustavus women's soccer team held Senior Day on Saturday and defeated Augsburg, 4-1.
Taylor Finney scored the first goal of her career on a day which celebrated her and the seven other players graduating from the program.
The Gustavus women's soccer team had their best day offensively in over a year, scoring four goals against the Auggies and was a celebration all around, celebrating Senior Day and the game provided itself the opportunity for all seniors to play.
Just nine minutes into the half, the Gusties found their first goal of the game. Junior
Kate Hamski (Blaine, Minn.) played the ball towards the endline and after a challenge with an Auggie, classmate
Meghan Colebeck (South St. Paul, Minn.) was able to pick up the ball. Colebeck played the ball across the goal and junior
Lauren Coy (Mahtomedi, Minn.) was able to pounce on a rebound and put the ball into the back of the net. It only took about 11 and a half minutes for the Gusties to double their lead and reach multiple goals for the first time since September 5th, a win over Illinois College. Coy was the one with the assist this time, finding
Tessa Zachmann (Blaine, Minn.) at the top of the penalty area. Zachmann took a touch and could not have found a better spot on the frame of the goal to shoot, hitting the top corner for her second goal of the season and second goal in as many games.
The third and final goal of the half for Gustavus was special for many reasons for senior
Taylor Finney (Byron, Minn.). Finney took a free kick from long-distance and curled into the bottom right corner for the first goal of her career in over 2000 minutes played for the Gusties, a wonderful gift on senior day. Gustavus led with nine shots on goal in the first half, holding a 9-4 lead over the Auggies. The Gusties took 12 total shots and scored more goals in the first half than they have this season.
In the 63rd minute, Gustavus added one more goal to bring their total up to four, courtesy of first-year
Taylor Schilling (Mankato, Minn.). Schilling scored her first goal in a Gustie uniform after Zachmann centered the ball to first-year
Luci Chastey (Duluth, Minn.). Chastey took a shot that Schilling was able to redirect past the Augsburg keeper. Unfortunately, with less than two minutes, a corner kick deflected around and ended the clean sheet for senior goalkeeper
Katelyn Olson (Cloquet, Minn.).
The four goals is the most the Gusties have scored in a game this year and the most in any game since beating Augsburg, 4-3, on September 16th. Zachmann, Coy, and Schilling led the team with two shots on goal each to help Gustavus reach 13 total shots on goal. The statistics of points (12), goals (4), assists (4), and shots on goal (4) were all either bettered or tied in the match today, marking the best statistical performance offensively of the season.
The eight graduating players this year are Olson, Finney,
Grace Dlouhy (Saint Peter, Minn.),
Libby Moore (Omaha, Neb.),
Josie Moore (Omaha, Neb.),
Halima Bigirindavyi (St. Louis Park, Minn.),
Ava Reierson (Delano, Minn.), and junior
Claire Erickson (Buffalo, Minn.).
Gustavus women's soccer is back in action at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 7th, traveling up to Superior, Wisconsin to take on UW-Superior.
