Teammates high-five Kristin Moen after her goal in the second half
The Gustavus women’s soccer team had its work cut out for them against No. 8-ranked Loras College on Sunday afternoon in St. Peter, Minn. The Gusties fell 4-1 as Loras’s Tonya Lohmeyer recorded two goals in the match. Kristin Moen scored the lone Gustavus goal in the 82nd minute. The Gusties fall to 5-8 overall with the loss, while Loras improves to 12-1 overall with the victory.
Loras opened up a 2-0 lead on back-to-back header goals within the first ten minutes of the match. Duhawk Tonya Lohmeyer buried a header off a crossing pass from Maddie Tennant at the 9:15 mark. Then, less than a minute later, Jess Kern found Lohmeyer again in space in front of the goal for another header. The Gusties did not register a shot on goal until the 41st minute of the match. The Duhawks had eight shots within the frame, as Gustavus goalkeeper Chelsea Bayer made two saves.
Chelsea Bayer knocks a ball away within traffic in front of the goal
After the opening two goals of the match, the two teams would play scoreless soccer for over 50 minutes. Kate Young broke the silence in the 59th minute with a breakaway goal off a Rachel Rieger assist that found the bottom left corner of the net. Coach Stehlik’s squad played with much more intensity in the second half, registering six shots to Loras’s four. Gustavus had a golden opportunity in the 79th minute yet Loras goalkeeper Katie Chambers came up big with a series of three saves to keep the shutout intact. Ashley Anderson was turned away on the initial shot of a two-on-one break, then Mackenzie Del Santro was stoned by Chambers on two rebound tries. The Gusties would get on the board just three minutes later when Kristen Moen buried a one-timer cross from Anderson, cutting the lead to 3-1. Loras’s Rachel Rieger capped the game with an unassisted breakaway goal in the 82nd minute, securing the Duhawks fifth straight victory.
Loras held the advantage in both shots (12-7) and corner kicks (6-5) in the match. Katie Chambers was credited with the complete game win, making five saves along the way. Chelsea Bayer allowed four goals while making three saves in a complete game. Anderson, Del Santro, and Moen led the Gusties with two shots each. Moen’s goal is her third of the season and first since Sept. 10 against Central.
The Gusties will be back on the soccer pitch Wednesday for a match against Macalester College at 4:00pm in St. Peter, Minn.