The Gustavus Adolphus women’s soccer team opened the 2006 season in thrilling fashion Friday with a 2-1 double overtime win at Edgewood College in Madison, Wisconsin. First-year Kirsten Thulien (Burnsville, Minn.) knocked in the game-winner in the 103rd minute off a corner kick. The Gusties outshot the Eagles 13-12 and sophomore Ashley Ohlson (Anchorage, Alaska) picked up the win in net.
Gustavus got on the board first by taking advantage of an Edgewood College hand ball inside the box. Senior Amy Larson (Bloomington, Minn.) converted the ensuing penalty kick at the 29:41 mark to give the Gusties the 1-0 lead.
Gustavus held the lead into halftime, but Edgewood’s Kara Peppler knotted the score at 1-1 with an unassisted goal just 24 seconds into the second half. The Gusties held a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks in the second half, but could not convert.
Ohlson and Edgewood keeper Brittany Labno each made five saves. Larson and sophomore Christy Tupy (Eagan, Minn.) each took a game-high three shots, Thulien fired off a pair of shots, and five other Gusties attempted a shot.
The Gusties moved their unbeaten streak in season openers to 12 games (11-0-1). The last time a Stehlik-coached Gustavus squad fell in a season opener was 1994, when UW-Stevens Point upended the Gusties 3-0.
Gustavus faces UW-Whitewater at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 2 in Whitewater, Wisconsin.