09/01/06

After 110 minutes of action in the opening game of the 4^th annual Advantage Emblem Cup at St. Scholastica, neither the Saints nor the Falcons from UW-River Falls were able to walk off the field with a victory, instead having to settle for a scoreless tie to open their 2006 seasons.

In the opening 45 minutes of action, the Falcons (0-0-1) out shot the host Saints (0-0-1) eight to four but the half saw a back and fourth flow of advantage for both teams.

The Saints came out stronger in the second half, controlled the action a bit more and turned the tables by out shooting the Falcons 10 to four.

Hardly any shot in the game from either team was a clean or unobstructed shot as both defenses cleared well from deep in their defensive zones and within the box.

Still, both goalkeepers were forced to make a number of difficult saves. Saints junior Kelly Momsen had 11 in the game, the most in a single game in her career, and Falcons freshman keeper Emily Stieler made her first collegiate start a memorable one with seven saves without allowing a goal.

Defenders on both teams were the stars of the game as expected in a scoreless game.

For the Saints, freshman Cortney Mackenzie – another freshman making her first collegiate start – along with juniors Becky Fisher and Dani Determan helped prevent Momsen’s saves total from even higher figures, while sweeper Ashley Peterson was a rock for the Falcons in the box.

Sophomore Robin Johnson, last season’s points leader for the Saints, led her team in shots on goal with three, and Diana Hermes from UWRF registered five shots on goal to lead the Falcons.

Next up for the Saints will be a 4 p.m. Saturday, September 2 home match-up with UW-Stout on Saints Field while the Falcons play in the early Saturday game, a 2 p.m. contest against Northland (Wis.) College.