DULUTH, Minn. (Duhawks.com) - The Loras women's soccer team improved to 4–0–0 this season with a 2–1 win over St. Scholastica on Sunday. Juniors
Sydney Wright and
Riley O'Neill provided the offense for the Duhawks, who match the program's best start since the 2010 season. Loras conceded their first goal of the year after St. Scholastica converted a penalty in the 90th minute, ending the shutout streak at 378:15.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
FIRST HALF
- Loras came out on Sunday with energy and it paid off by controlling the first half and creating the best opportunities to score. The first chance came off a corner from junior Gretchen Schutz who found junior Lauren Bolnius in front of the net, but Bolnius' header was blocked.
- In the seventh minute, Schutz's shot was originally blocked and the loose ball fell to the feet of Riley O'Neill who struck a shot on goal from about 30 yards out for an easy save for Roni Rudolph.
- Immediately following, freshman Emily Robinson had the ball in the box and lost it, but in the process was fouled, earning a penalty for the Duhawks. Junior Sydney Wright strolled in and beat St. Scholastica goalkeeper Roni Rudolph to give her team an early 1–0 lead.
- Riley O'Neill doubled Loras' lead in the 22nd minute after delivering a free kick off the crossbar from 28 yards out. After hitting the crossbar, the Duhawks benefited from a fortunate bounce as the ball came off the crossbar and spun into the back of the net.
- After a Schutz corner in the 27th minute, junior Maura Walsh and Riley O'Neill were in the area in search of a header, but narrowly missed from increasing Loras' lead to three.
- The Duhawk defense was on their game again today, holding the Saints without a shot for the first 30 minutes. St. Scholastica's Taylor Olson ran onto a through ball inside the 18 and fired a shot near post that was denied by senior Maria Siebels.
- Senior Tori Ochs nearly had her first goal of the season when she jumped on a loose ball but on a second effort, hit a slow roller to the far post that went wide left.
- St. Scholastica earned a corner in the 41st minute and with it, served a hard curving ball towards the near post but Siebels was there and punched it away from danger.
SECOND HALF
- St. Scholastica came out of the the gates in the second half with new life and found their offensive game. In total, the Saints recorded 10 shots on goal in the second half to just three in the first half with six of the 10 coming in the first 17 minutes of the second half.
- In the 49th minute, Becca Rancour had the ball on the end line and crossed the ball to Taylor Olson who was standing near the six-yard box. Olson waited for the ball to reach her and on her first touch, flicked a shot near post that Siebels had to dive for in order to stop.
- St. Scholastica received a free kick in the 56th minute and found Kirsten Olsen at the top of the box where she timed her jump perfectly and headed a shot on goal, only to be denied by Siebels.
- A minute later, Becca Rancour again had the ball on the near side and beat a pair of Loras defenders, creating space and struck a right-footed shot that went over the head of Siebels but missed wide of the far post.
- The Saints kept the pressure on and earned a corner in the 60th minute. Janelle Rouillard took the corner and her cross led to a shot from Hannah Zeis that was blocked. Once Rouillard took the corner, she rejoined the play and picked up the loose ball from Zeis' attempt and put her own shot over the crossbar.
- In the 65th minute, Hannah Zeis, like Janelle Rouillard, jumped on a loose ball raced in from the near sideline, teed up her shot, but delivered her attempt right at Siebels for an easy save.
- The Saints nearly capitalized on a golden opportunity in the 68th minute as the ball was served into traffic in front of Siebels who came out to meet it with the ball bouncing off of her but a quick recovery halted the any further damage.
- Loras earned a throw in during the 70th minute and with it created a chance inside the box as freshman McKenna Lloyd recorded the first shot of her collegiate career after receiving a pass inside the 18 and ripped a shot that missed wide right.
- In search of an insurance goal in the 76th minute, the Duhawks nearly took advantage of a Schutz free kick from outside the 18. Her strike hit the crossbar and bounced down, but Loras was whistled for offsides before any further development could be made.
- Wright showed her defensive prowess in the 82nd minute when Taylor Olson beat her down the near sideline. With Olson about to cross the ball towards the front of goal, Wright recovered and won her tackle attempt, which led to a goal kick for Loras.
- With under a minute left in regulation, St. Scholastica caught a break after being fouled in the box. The Saints Taylor Olson stepped to the penalty spot and bested Siebels to cut the deficit in half, ending the Duhawks shutout streak.
FRIEDMAN GROUP PLAYER OF THE GAME
Riley O'Neill I The midfielder collected the game-winner with her strike off a free kick in the 22nd minute. O'Neill was a force in the middle of the field stopping St. Scholastica offensive threats and creating opportunities for her own team.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Following the conclusion of the weekend tournament, four Duhawks were named to the Advantage Emblem Cup All-Tournament Team. Wright was named MVP, joined by sophomore
Elizabeth Mills, junior
Megan Brant and senior
Maria Siebels.
UP NEXT
Following two wins this weekend, Loras will have Monday off before they travel to Rock Island, Ill. on Tuesday evening to take on Augustana. Kickoff is scheduled for 5 p.m.
SOUNDBITES