St. Olaf Women’s Soccer Achieves Fourth Consecutive Shutout Victory

The St. Olaf College women’s soccer team keeps making headlines with their remarkable season. In a recent match against Gustavus Adolphus College, the Oles notched their fourth straight shutout and won 3-0 in a Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (MIAC) game.

This win stretched their unbeaten streak to nine games. It’s also their best-ever record through the first 11 games of a season.

St. Olaf’s Dominant Performance

St. Olaf College, sitting at No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches Region IX Poll, really showed their strength on the field against Gustavus. The Oles outshot Gustavus 31-3 and had a 17-0 edge in shots on goal.

Their offense came out firing. They nearly scored in the first three minutes.

Key Players and Goals

Senior Megan Timmerman and junior Emily Johnson made a big impact in the first half. Timmerman scored in the 11th minute with a sharp shot inside the far post—her third goal this season.

Johnson, who’s been on a tear lately, added another in the 30th minute. That was her team-leading 11th goal, and she’s now scored nine times in the last seven games. Pretty amazing, honestly.

In the second half, junior Wren VanDeWalker wrapped things up with a goal in the 62nd minute. She now has three goals and four assists in her last eight games.

VanDeWalker’s steady contributions really show how deep and flexible this St. Olaf squad is.

Defensive Solidity

While the offense grabbed headlines, the Oles’ defense quietly did its job. First-year goalkeeper Charlotte Percy posted her fifth shutout in nine starts this season.

Percy didn’t have to make a single save in this match. The Oles’ backline really shut down Gustavus’s chances.

Comparative Analysis

St. Olaf’s dominance was pretty clear compared to Gustavus. Their goalkeeper, Katelyn Olson, made 14 saves just to keep things close.

The huge gap in shots and shots on goal says it all—St. Olaf controlled the match and kept Gustavus from getting anything going offensively.

Implications for the Season

This win keeps St. Olaf tied with Carleton College for second place in the MIAC standings, both sitting at 10 points. They’re just two points behind St. Catherine University, with the College of Saint Benedict close behind.

The Oles’ strong start is setting up an exciting race for the MIAC title. It’s hard not to wonder how far this group can go.

Upcoming Challenges

The Oles have a tough stretch coming up, with three of their next four games on the road. Next up is a big test at Saint Ben’s on Saturday, Oct. 4.

Keeping their unbeaten run alive and picking up points away from home will be crucial if they’re going to make a real run at the championship. We’ll see how it shakes out.

Conclusion

St. Olaf College women’s soccer team has shown real skill and teamwork this season. Their recent win over Gustavus Adolphus College just highlights how hard they’ve worked.

If you’re curious about more details on their latest match or want to keep up with upcoming fixtures, check out the official athletics page.