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Cardinals make a statement with streak-snapping 1-1 overtime tie vs. nationally ranked Macalester
Armed with an offensive arsenal that boasted 36 goals in eight games, not to mention a defense that had surrendered just four goals, the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team was eager to accomplish something no other MIAC team had been able to do in the last 32 games bring down mighty Macalester. The Cardinals learned quickly that there's a reason the Scots are 29-0-3 in their last 32 games against conference foes they're good. Very good. And for 110 minutes Saturday, the Cardinals proved they were equally as good, as SMU battled the 16th-ranked Scots to a 1-1 deadlock at Ochrymowycz Field. "It's hard to feel too disappointed about a loss like this," said SMU coach Tony Guinn, whose team moved to 1-1-1 in the MIAC and 7-1-1 overall. "Macalester is a very good team, but I think we also proved that we are a very good team as well. "I'm very happy with the way we played especially considering we were without three of our top players," added Guinn, noting that Bethany Kaufmann (Green Bay, Wis.) and Kendra Maloney (Green Bay, Wis.) were out of the lineup with injuries, while Lisa Tlougan (Rochester, Minn.) was injured late in the second half and did not play either of the overtime periods. "Everyone played great. We knew that this was going to be our toughest test of the season, and as far as I'm concerned, we passed with flying colors." The Cardinals managed just two shots in the game's opening 45 minutes, but they made the most of them, as Tlougan gave SMU a 1-0 halftime advantage, netting her sixth goal of the season at the 42-minute mark. Macalester trailing for just the second time in its last 35 games evened things up 12 minutes into the second half, as Maddy Cocrhane headed a shot past SMU goalkeeper Jennifer Johnson (Racine, Wis.). The Scots continued to apply offensive pressure, but Johnson was up to the challenge, as the SMU senior stopped seven second-half shots to keep the game even and force overtime. "(Macalester) really put the pressure on in the second half, but we hung right with them," said Guinn, whose team snapped a nine-game losing streak vs. the Scots with the tie. "To me, this is like a win we picked up a point that most teams in the conference won't get this year, and it's points like this that could be the difference between making the (conference) tournament and not. "We've been playing pretty good soccer to this point, but a game like this is a huge confidence booster we just tied the 16th-ranked team in the country," Guinn added. "I've known all along that we are a good team, now I think the team believes it,, too." |
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