WINONA, Minn. — Just when you thought the Saint Mary's University of Minnesota women's soccer team had kicked its offense into high gear, the Cardinals shifted into overdrive Wednesday evening.
The Cardinals, coming off a 3-2, come-from-behind win over St. Olaf last Saturday, erupted for five first-half goals and never looked back in cruising to a 5-2 nonconference win over Martin Luther at Ochrymowycz Field.
Saint Mary's wasted little time picking up where it left off against the Oles, as
Caroline Blackwood (Norwalk, Ohio) found the back of the net just 2:38 into the first half.
And that was just the tip of the first-half iceberg for the Cardinals.
Emma Schaefer (Roseville, Minn.) scored twice in a five-minute span—her team-leading fifth and sixth goals of the season—to make it 3-0 and
Maddy Wallraff (Blaine, Minn.) and
Molly Homeyer (Arlington, Texas) would also find the back of the net to give Saint Mary's a 5-0 cushion at the break.
Martin Luther scored twice in the second half—the first on a Hailey Johnson goal at 57:53 and the second on a goal by Abby Koelpin with just 48 seconds remaining—but it was too little, too late.
Aubrie Cornell (Columbia, Mo.) made her 15th straight start in goal for the Cardinals, but did not have to make a safe in her 28 minutes of work.
Sarah Sieracki (Schererville, Ind.) and
Jessica Hoffman (Greenfield, Minn.) each finished with one save in relief appearances for Saint Mary's.
The Cardinals (6-9-0 overall) will go for their third straight win on Saturday, when they return to Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with a 3:30 p.m. showdown at St. Thomas.
