WINONA, Minn. — A year ago, the Saint Mary's University women's soccer team scored two goals in its Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against Hamline — and lost, 3-2 in overtime.
This time around, the Cardinals weren't about to let the same thing happen.
Amy Sibik (Onalaska, Wis.) scored a pair of goals and the Cardinals dominated from start to finish in handing the Pipers a 4-1 conference setback at Ochrymowycz Field.
“That was a good win all the way around,” said SMU coach Eric Zimmerman, whose team has now won three of its last four games in improving to 8-5-1 overall and 2-5-1 in the MIAC. “We came out determined to play well, and everyone on this team did exactly that.
“There was not letdown at all — it was a solid effort from start to finish.”
The Cardinals had plenty of offensive chances in the first half, pelting Hamline goalkeeper Liz Stock with seven shots in the game's opening 45 minutes.
Unfortunately, all SMU had for its effort was Sibik's 12th goal of the season, as the Cardinals clung to a 1-0 lead at the break.
“I told the ladies at halftime that they had to shoot more,” Zimmerman said. “We were getting good looks at the net, but we kept trying to find a better shot — instead of shooting the ball.”
The Cardinals took Zimmerman's advice to heart in the second half, as Stephanie Marnocha (Appleton, Wis.) and Amanda Rahman (Rochester, Minn.) scored 17 minutes apart to push SMU's lead to 3-0, and Sibik made it 4-0 with her second of the game — and 13th of the season — in the game's 80th minute.
“It was good to see us break out a bit offensively,” said Zimmerman, whose Cardinals had scored just five goals in its last nine games combined, heading into Saturday's contest. “We went for a long stretch there where we'd create good chances, but not be able to finish them off.
“Today, we created those chances, and then cashed in on them.”
