ST. PAUL, Minn. — UW-Eau Claire lost to St. Catherine 2-1 on Saturday at St. Kate's Field.
Emma Donovan scored at 79:49 to open the scoring for UW-Eau Claire, but the Blugolds were unable to hold the lead as the Wildcats finished with two second-half goals. UWEC was outshot 19-7, including 11-3 in shots on goal, and its goalkeeper totals included nine saves.
Bella Jones made five first-half saves as the Blugolds kept the Wildcats off the board despite facing seven shots. The Wildcats generated the early pressure, but Jones stopped Emily Olson in the eighth minute and Charlotte Willems in the 14th, and UW-Eau Claire also navigated a corner kick at 22:06. The Blugolds created chances through
Johanna Thompson,
Olivia Lukrafka Varassin and
Jayda Swopes, with Lukrafka Varassin putting a shot on frame in the 29th minute. UWEC played through a physical closing stretch that included fouls on Thompson,
Jayda Swopes and
Brooklyn Osby and a yellow card to
Lauren Putnam, while Jones added saves against Bella Meier, Jaidyn Richter and Emily Henaman to send the match to halftime scoreless.
UW-Eau Claire went in front late when Donovan scored at 79:49 for a 1-0 lead, but the Wildcats answered with two goals in the final six minutes to take the match, 2-1. Earlier in the half,
Anna Lorenzana put a shot on frame in the 51st minute, and Jones kept the match level with saves in the 65th and 73rd minutes as the Wildcats generated pressure. After Donovan's goal, Jones added another save at 83:25 before Lydia Benson tied it at 84:10 off an assist from Jaidyn Richter. The Blugolds pushed back with a corner kick at 87:10 and Lorenzana shot at 87:41, but Bella Meier scored at 86:53 off an assist from Ceci Emery for the final 2-1 margin.
Donovan scored an unassisted goal and finished with two shots, including one on goal. Lorenzana shared the team lead with two shots and put one on frame. Jones recorded nine saves while playing all 90 minutes in goal.
The Blugolds fall to 3-2-0 overall while the Wildcats move to 2-2-0 overall.
Up next, the Blugolds travel to Indianola, Iowa, to face Simpson College on Saturday, Sept. 19. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Buxton Stadium.
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