MENLO, Calif. – Carroll College women's soccer fell to Menlo College 1-0 on a goal in the 83rd minute Thursday on the road to open the 2016 season.
The Saints battled the Oaks early with Menlo controlling much of the first 20 minutes of the game but Carroll soon settled into their offense and started moving the ball into their offensive third of the field.
Michaela Kueffler hit a ball off of the crossbar in the 35th minute and the Saints actually get the ball into the net in the waning seconds of the first half but the goal was waived off on an offside penalty.
"We played well, outshot them overall and with shots on goal," head coach David Thorvilson said. "We hit the frame twice and and had a goal called back. We controlled the middle of the field and had chances but were unlucky when we did get them."
The Saints tallied 17 shot to Menlo's 13 and seven on frame to the Oaks' four but Menlo goalkeeper Kaylin Swart, who just a few weeks ago was on the roster for the South African national team during the Olympics, held the Saints at bay.
"Their goalkeeper is very talented," Thorvilson said. "She made two tremendous saves that kept us out of the score column but that is what you get when you have an Olympian in the net against you."
In the second half, the Saints again went on the attack, notching 12 of their 17 shots after the break but it was a counter-attack that would cause their downfall.
In the 83rd minute, the Oaks pressed an attack and Carroll goalkeeper
Jamie Carter came out to collect the ball, that is when she ran into an unsuspecting
Ylena Gazdik. The ball was knocked loose and Menlo's Danielle Robinson found Alexis Von Schottenstein in the open and she buried It for the goal.
The Saints failed to muster even a shot in the final minutes and the Oaks held on for the win to move to 2-0 on the season while Carroll falls to 0-1.
Despite the loss, Thovilson is pleased with how his team played in their first outing of the season.
"I thought we looked pretty good for being on the road and trying some new things," Thovilson said. "For most of the game we were moving the ball well but just couldn't get it in the back of the net. They are well organized and very well coached. You would obviously like to win but I thought we did a lot of good things and left everything on the field."
The Saints will be off Friday before returning to action Saturday against The Master's College at 11 a.m. Pacific time. The match will be streamed via the Menlo Stretch Internet Portal.
