Rebounding from difficult loss the day before to Northwestern, the Cougar women’s soccer team picked themselves up, dusted themselves off, and won a tough 2-0 match against Crown College Saturday afternoon.
First half goals from first year Taylor Oistad and junior captain Liz Vold made the difference.
Early on, both teams had trouble establishing a lasting offensive pressure. Finally in the 37th minute junior Amber O’Connor took the game’s first shot.
This stalemate continued until the 23rd minute when a through ball from Tayler Fairchild found a streaking Oistad behind the defense. The Bloomington, Minnesota, native calmly slipped the ball past the Crown goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead.
Vold entered the game on defense ten minutes later for Kali Cordes. Standing just inside the 18-yard line, a lost ball ricocheted out to her feet and she blasted it home for the Cougars’ second goal at the 9:44 mark.
Coming out for the second half with renewed vigor, the Purple Storm played with heightened intensity. Still, the UMM defense bucked up and turned away every attack. Goalkeeper Emily Jacob earned the shutout with four saves on the day.
Head coach Dan Magner liberally substituted throughout the game, keeping his players fresh on a warm September afternoon. Seventeen Cougars played against Crown.
The win brings UMM back to .500 with a 5-5 record. Crown dropped to 1-6.
Next weekend, the Cougars host St. Scholastica and Northland in Morris.
Minnesota, Morris, 2