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Saints: Meltdown won't be repeated WOMEN'S SOCCER: Having learned a lesson from last year's regional, St. Scholastica is focused this year.

Release Date: 11/07/05
BY CHRISTA LAWLER
NEWS TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

Memories of last season's NAIA regional championship elicit gestures ranging from eye rolls to stuck-out tongues from the St. Scholastica women's soccer team.

It was an ugly end to a record-setting season.

The Saints were the top seed and advanced to the region finals against the University of Mary, a perennial pest who defeated them in the regional final the previous season.

St. Scholastica led 2-0 into the second half and were cruising toward the finish line. In the span of two minutes, the Marauders tied the game and then added a game-winner.

The lesson:

``A 2-0 lead is the most dangerous lead in soccer,'' senior sweeper Pam Thomsen said Sunday.

Everything was in the Saints' favor - including the momentum of 19 regular-season wins.

``Last season was awesome,'' said Jen Seip, the Saints' second-leading scorer. ``We just fell apart at the wrong time. We've had a harder season (this year). Even though we didn't lose a lot of players, we have a different team dynamic.''

St. Scholastica returns to the NAIA Region III tournament today for the fifth consecutive season.

The top-seeded Saints (11-5-3) host St. Jamestown (N.D.) (7-10-1) in the semifinals today at 4 p.m. at Public Schools Stadium. Dordt College of Iowa (9-8-2) faces Hastings, Neb., (13-7) in a 6 p.m. semifinal. The championship match is 6 p.m. Tuesday at PSS, with the winner advancing to the 20-team national tournament Nov. 16-22 in Olathe, Kan.

This time, the Saints take a more cautious approach to the postseason, with less hype and more focus. Last season the national tournament was held in California, and the Saints used surfing, sun and California beach music for inspiration.

Few songs conjure images of Olathe, Kan. Regardless, this time the Saints' plans are rooted at PSS. They won't let their minds wander down Interstate Highway 35.

``We've been focused on the here and now,'' Thomsen said. ``(Last season) we were focused too much on the next game, instead of on the one in front of us.''

The Saints are led by Duluth Marshall graduate Robin Johnson, who has 10 goals, 11 assists. Seip, who has played minimally with a torn right anterior cruciate ligament, has 12 goals and four assists. Goalie Kristin Lammi has a .874 save percentage.

CHRISTA LAWLER covers soccer for the News Tribune. She can be reached at (218)723-5364, (800)456-8181, or by e-mail at clawler@duluthnews.com.