Game Summary
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Heading into Sunday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference showdown against defending conference champion Macalester, Saint Mary's University women's soccer coach Tony Guinn must have felt a bit like Rodney Dangerfield.
After all, despite a season-opening eight-game winning streak — SMU's longest since starting the 1996 season 8-0-0 — his Cardinals couldn't get any respect.
Unbeaten, but unranked, the Cardinals took to the field against the Scots determined to prove that their season-opening run was no fluke — and that they deserved to be considered among the nation's elite.
The Scots, however, had other ideas, as Macalester — ranked No. 5 in the latest NSCAA Top 25 poll and already the owners of a 2-1 victory over defending national champion Wheaton this season — got a first-half goal from Grace King and held on to beat the Cardinals 1-0.
"We played well," said Guinn. "We certainly have nothing to hang our heads about — we just played the fifth-ranked team in the country to a 1-0 game. We battled them right to the end."
Literally.
With Macalester clinging to its 1-0 lead, SMU's
Abbey D'Acquisto (Racine, Wis.) got free and rifled a shot that Scots' goalie Jenny Lee made a diving save on to preserve the shutout.
"I'm so proud of this group, they played their hearts out — it's unfortunate they couldn't come away with a win," said Guinn. "Historically speaking, they had a great run to start this season, now we have to regroup and get ready for Gustavus (on Wednesday)."
Jennifer Johnson (Racine, Wis.) finished with seven saves for the Cardinals, who have now lost seven straight times to Macalester, which now holds a 10-9-3 overall record vs. SMU. Macalester, winners of six of the last eight conference crowns, has not allowed a goal in MIAC play this season and has given up just 14 goals over the last eight conference seasons.
"Macalester is a great team — they deserve to be ranked No. 5 in the country," Guinn said. "But I thought we proved a thing or two out there tonight, too. Obviously, we're disappointed with the loss — our goal every time we step on the field is to leave with a win – but we played with heart and determination.
Tonight, Macalester was just a bit better."
