ST. PAUL, MINN. – In Saturday's hard-fought Upper Midwest Athletic Conference [UMAC] championship contest, the top-seeded University of Northwestern women's soccer team [12-7-1 overall] fell short to the second-seeded St. Scholastica [13-6-3 overall], 2-1, on home turf.
Throughout a physical first frame, UNW and CSS battled back and forth offensively, but it was the Saints who knocked in a lone goal late in the half to take a 1-0 advantage at intermission.
On the half,the Eagles fired off an impressive six shots [4 SOG], while the Saints tallied 13 shots [8 SOG].
Coming out of the locker room looking for a spark, Northwestern's Anna Welch powered one past St. Scholastica's keeper to equalize the score, 1-1. Helping out in the action was
Emily Goeppinger (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) and
Linley Norman (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake), who both tabbed an assist.
At the 62' mark, the Saints knocked in their second, raising the score 2-1 over the Eagles.
UNW had a few more chances at net before the end of regulation, but had nothing drop in their favor as CSS held on till the end to clinch the victory [2-1] over the home team.
Concluding the afternoon contest, Northwestern recorded a whopping 14 shots [8 SOG], as St. Scholastica owned the shot battle with 22 [11 SOG].
UNW's game leaders on the match were Norman [5S / 3 SOG / 1A], Welch [1S / 1 SOG / 1G], and Goeppinger [1S / 1A].
Guarding the cage the entire 90 minutes, Goalkeeper
Samantha Dewey (Two Harbors, Minn./Two Harbors) made quite the impression, as she caught nine saves on the competition.
The Eagles conclude the 2017 season with a 12-7-1 overall record.
Season Highlights:
- The Eagles surpassed the all-time record in goals in a season [68] and points [177].
- UNW's Anna Martinson (Apple Valley, Minn./Homeschool) now holds the all-time record for assists in a single season [15], totaling 23 in her four-year career.
- Northwestern also tabbed a program-best goals in a game, scoring 11 goals against Crown College this season.
