MONMOUTH, Oreg. - The Saint Martin's University women's soccer team (1-0) started their 2023 season on a high note, securing a hard-fought victory against Colorado Christian University (0-1) with a final score of 1-0. Head Coach Derek Faulkner, who marked his debut as the leader of the SMU women's soccer team, expressed his satisfaction with the performance, emphasizing the collective effort that contributed to the win.
In a game characterized by determined defense and skillful attacks, the Saints emerged victorious, with Kaeli Ploettner scoring the decisive goal in the 68th minute. Ploettner's goal was beautifully set up by Maya Foster, showcasing the team's strong teamwork and coordination on the field.
The game was tightly contested, with both teams displaying their defensive prowess. Saint Martin's managed to control the majority of the play, amassing a total of 11 shots, with 3 of them on target. In contrast, Colorado Christian had limited opportunities, taking only 2 shots, with 1 on goal. The difference in offensive output ultimately favored the Saints.
Saint Martin's goalkeeper, Ali Campigotto, made an impressive save to keep her sheet clean, while the Colorado Christian goalkeeper was called into action twice, making two important saves to prevent further goals.
Corner kicks were in favor of the Saints, with three opportunities to Colorado Christian's none. The game saw a total of 13 fouls, with the Saints committing 6 and their opponents 7. However, there were no penalties or ejections in this closely contested match.
Coach Derek Faulkner was pleased with the overall effort of the team, particularly on the defensive end, which resulted in a shutout victory. He commented, "Really good team effort today. We got contributions from a lot of people in many different ways. Getting shutouts are always a good sign of effort and making plays. I thought we were pretty good on that side of the ball today. I'm looking forward to the next opportunity this weekend, and getting to watch this group compete again."
With this season-opening win, Saint Martin's women's soccer team has set a positive tone for the rest of their campaign. The team is back in action on Sunday with a 11 AM matchup versus Stanislaus State (0-1).
