WINONA, Minn. — Talk about a tale of two halves.
The Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer team enjoyed one of its best halves of the season during the opening 45 minutes of Tuesday's Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game against St. Olaf.
The game's final 45 minutes, however, were far less memorable.
The Cardinals jumped out to a 2-0 first-half lead, only to have St. Olaf answer with three goals in the first 15 minutes of the second half, as the Oles handed Saint Mary's a 3-2 conference setback at Ochrymowycz Field.
Caroline Blackwood (Norwalk, Va.) did her part to give the Cardinals' their two-goal first-half, assisting on
Kelli Harstad's (Hampton, Minn.) tally in the 27th minute, before lacing a perfect corner kick that
Emma Schaefer (Falcon Heights, Minn.) headed past St. Olaf goalkeeper Ruth Hesse to push the Saint Mary's lead to 2-0 nine minutes later.
It was the Oles, however, who came out of the halftime break with their offense shifted into overdrive.
Emily Sierakowski cut the Cardinals' lead to 2-1 just 47 seconds into the second half, and added her second of the game—and fourth of the season—five minutes later to knot the game at 2-2.
The Oles' Grace Bestler broke the stalemate in the 58th minute, blasting a direct kick past Cardinal goalkeeper
Miranda Halling (Rochester, Minn.).
Halling finished with five saves for the Cardinals, while Hesse finished with four saves in goal for the Oles.
The Cardinals (0-6-1 MIAC, 4-8-1 overall) return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play on Saturday, as the Cardinals head to Arden Hills, Minn., for a 1 p.m. showdown with Bethel.
