By Kyle Naber, UWEC Sports Information
EAU CLAIRE, WIS. (Blugolds.com)- The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire women's soccer team held their home opener Saturday afternoon at Bollinger Field, where the team fell 3-2 against St. Olaf (Minn.)
Box Score | Photos | Coach Yengo's recap
The Blugolds came out of the gates slow and St. Olaf took advantage by quickly striking in the first five minutes of the game. The Oles continued to attack the net shooting three more times before the Blugolds could respond. At the seventeen-minute mark, Eau Claire finally went on the attack. Senior Caroline Henderson (Sr.-Duluth, MN/East) made a big play in the twenty-fourth minute getting tripped up in the goalie box. The Blugolds were not able to convert on the penalty kick and still trailed the Oles 1-0.
Nearing the end of the half St. Olaf, continued to put the pressure on and converted on another goal to add some insurance to their lead. Eau Claire's head coach Sean Yengo made some key adjustments and fired up his squad for the second half.
As the second half began, both teams were flying around the ball. The Oles continued to fire shots at the Blugolds and scored again just after the fifty-four minute mark to take a 3-0 advantage. Eau Claire was not going to go down easily though, just two minutes later Henderson put the Blugolds on the board.
The intensity of the game continued to pick up as both teams continued to attack the net. Henderson added her second goal of the game right after the eighty-four minute mark, with a great assist from Erin Gietman (So.-Appleton, WI).
Eau Claire brought everything they had for the last minutes of the game. The Blugolds had a corner kick with just three minutes left in the game. Lauren Lenz (Jr.-Saint Germain, WI/Northland Pines) first corner kick was cleared by the Oles for a second attempt. The second corner kick resulted in a stellar save on a Brenna Sullivan (So.-Rosemount, MN) shot. Emily Sullivan (Fr.-Medina, MN/Wayzata) put one more shot on goal for the Blugolds, but was denied giving St. Olaf the 3-2 win.
Overall, St. Olaf took 15 shots on goal, to the Blugolds 8. Eau Claire's Sammie Lefaive (Jr.-Coon Rapids, MN) took the loss, while making four total saves.
The Blugolds will head out on the road for their next three games. Eau Claire will take on Carleton (Minn.) in their next match, which is set for 4:00 pm on Monday, September 5th.
Follow the action for all sports this season on Blugold Game Day.
