Minnesota, Morris 5
Crown College 0
A week ago, the Cougar women’s soccer team lost 3-1 despite outshooting their opponent, Northland College. Afterward, captain Rachel Harstad said “I know we took [23 shots], but we have to take good quality shots, not just shots.”
The Cougars have also struggled in the first halves of games, often coming out flat and getting behind early.
But today in St. Bonifacius against Crown College, they overcame both problems in a big way. By the four minute mark, the Cougars led 2-0, and for the game, they scored five goals on nine shots on en route to a 5-0 shutout of the Purple Storm. Forward Amber O’Connor turned in a hat trick on the day, her second hat trick of the season.
“It was great to win, of course. But the most important part was that we came out like gangbusters,” said head coach Dan Magner after the game.
O’Connor’s first game came within the first minute, unassisted. First year forward Tayler Fairchild added a tally two minutes later on an assist from Nina Jarnot.
The Cougars rode this lead into the second half when O’Connor picked up her second goal in the 56th minute, assisted by Katie Kestner. She completed the hat trick 15 minutes later on a penalty kick. O’Connor now has nine goals on the season, leading the team.
First year Taylor Oistad finished the scoring in the 77th minute with an unassisted mark.
Equally impressive was the Cougars’ backline of Harstad, Crystal Zastrow, Kali Cordes, Annie Hawkinson, and Chelsea Moody who limited Crown to just four shots and only one on goal.
Magner said the Cougars’ offensive success was due to change of attitude. “Getting off good shots is a mentality. You have to have the intention to score. We have a tendency to have the ball at our feet and go immediately toward the goal. Today, we didn’t do that. We were patient and took good shots.”
The Cougars travel to Minneapolis tomorrow to face Northwestern College. They are now 6-7 on the year.
Box Score
