The Gustavus women’s soccer team was able to capitalize on several Saint Mary’s defensive mistakes en route to a 3-0 Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference win Wednesday night in Winona, Minn. Mike Stehlik, head coach of the Gusties, earned his 200th career victory with the win. His career record now stands at 200-102-25. Senior co-captain Christy Tupy scored her second and third goals of the season, while first-year Meghan McMillan scored her first collegiate goal for the Gusties. Goalkeeper Ashley Ohlson got her first win of the season and second shutout.
The Gusties were able to get on the board early as Tupy put back the rebound from a shot by Ashley Voigtlander after Cardinal goalkeeper Mariana Sanchez lost control of the ball in front of the net in the 15th minute. Fifteen minutes later, first-year Meghan McMillan scored her first collegiate goal after splitting two Saint Mary’s defenders and beating Sanchez with shot to the right side of the goal for a 2-0 advantage. This gave the Gusties a lead heading into halftime for just the second time this season. The two first half goals also doubled the total goals scored by the Gusties in the first half after scoring only one goal in the previous seven games.
Gustavus came out in the second half wanting to increase the lead as Tupy scored her team-tying third goal of the season to ice the victory for the Gusties. She beat a Cardinal defender after picking up a loose ball and fired a low shot to the left-hand corner that beat Sanchez, increasing the Gustavus lead to 3-0.
Ashley Ohlson picked up three saves in the Gustavus shutout and moved to 1-2-2 on the season, while Saint Mary’s goalkeeper Mariana Sanchez made nine saves in the loss. Gustavus improves to 2-4-2 (1-1-1 MIAC) on the season, while Saint Mary’s falls to 3-4-1 overall and 0-4-0 in the MIAC.
Gustavus will finish its three-game road trip on Saturday as they face the Knights from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.