First goal in second minute
MIDLAND, Mich. – A goal coming one minute into the game set the tone, and the ‘Cats opened its weekend in Midland with a 3-0 neutral site victory over Cedarville.
The Wildcats came out of the gates with pace, as Brooke Pietila found the back of the net only one minute into the contest to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead and early momentum.
“We knew what we had to do going into the game, and I think we executed well,” says goal scored Pietila. “We now have to put our focus to [Northwood] on Saturday.”
Freshman Alyse Daavettila made her first appearance of the match around the 30 minute mark of the half, then proceeded to score her first career goal with just over three minutes to play before the horn for halftime. The game remained 2-0 until Justina L’Esperance put the nail in the coffin with 10 minutes left, giving the Wildcats a 3-0 victory.
The Wildcats now improve to 2-1 overall on the young season.
Cat Nips
- Pietila scored her first goal of the season and third point on the early campaign (1-1–3)
- Daavettila scored her first career Wildcat goal on her first career shot attempt
- L’Esperance continues her hot streak to begin the season, scoring her second goal and bringing her season total to five points (2-1–5)
- Freshman goalkeeper Sally Patton posted her first career win in her first career start, posting a three-save shutout to aid the ‘Cats
- Stephanie Trujillo picked up the lone assist in the match, bringing her to three points in three games (1-1–3)
- All-American Maria Storm was the only field player to play all 90 minutes, followed by Pietila, Hannah Kastamo, and Megan Kirby at 86, and Kenna Alexander at 83
- The Wildcats outshot the Yellow Jackets 11-8, including seven on target to three
How It Happened
The Wildcats had a jump from the get-go, and it was Pietila who was in the right place at the right time to capitalize in the opening minutes, as she found a loose ball and took a first-time shot from the right corner of the box that beat the outstretched keeper on the left side.
Hannah Kastamo intercepted a pass in the dying minutes of the half and sent a right-footed cross into the box. The ball took a deflection and landed on the right foot of Daavettila who made no mistake to make the strike to the lower left corner and double the ‘Cats lead.
Trujillo corraled a pass into her body and made a nice move around her defender to generate space and make a perfect pass to find a breaking L’Esperance alone in the left side of the box. Justina hit it left-footed and beat the keeper back to the right, sealing the deal in the final minutes.
Up Next
The ‘Cats take on Northwood on Saturday at noon ET to complete the road trip.