After scoring her first collegiate goal in the 62nd minute, first-year forward Marli Bertagnoli sent the Tommies to a 1-0 win over Western Illinois University Sunday at South Field.
The matchup marked the Tommies’ (3-9-1, 1-4 Summit) first conference win of the season. The victory over the Leathernecks (7-5-1, 1-3 Summit) also snapped a seven game losing streak that the Tommies accumulated over the last 35 days.
“We’re super excited to have our first win, get our first three points in the Summit League, and we’re hoping to build on that moving forward,” coach Sheila McGill said.
Two St. Thomas goals were called off within the final 10 minutes of the match due to offsides and a foul on the Leathernecks’ goalkeeper during a corner kick.
However, Bertagnoli’s goal was not called off.
“It was super exciting to have my first college goal, especially from one of my best friends on the team,” Bertagnoli said. “She assisted it, so that was really awesome.”
The assist came from her former club soccer teammate, first-year forward Abby Brantner, who made a quick pass from the endline inside to Bertagnoli’s feet for the score. Brantner now leads the team with two assists on the season.
Sophomore goalkeeper Olivia Graupmann assisted the Tommies by making five saves on 11 shots during the match. She also defended against five Western Illinois corner kicks.
Whistles were on the menu as both teams accounted for 12 fouls and one yellow card apiece.
Graupmann noticed the match’s physical nature, but said her team has been preparing for it during practices this season.
“It’s something we’ve talked about a lot going into the season, that it’s going to be more physical (in Division I),” Graupmann said. “I’d say everyone on the team puts their body on the line for the game.”
Junior defender Shannon McWilliams exited the game in the 44th minute after a hard head and face collision with a Leatherneck player in the St. Thomas goalbox just before halftime.
Many fans, players and coaches on both sides were frustrated with the refereeing during the match, but McGill was proud of how her squad answered.
“They kept fighting through, whether we got the call or not,” McGill said. “We just kept battling through and we were able to take it to the corner and finish the game off.”
The Tommies will face Oral Roberts University Friday, Oct. 22 in Tulsa, Okla. before taking on the University of Missouri-Kansas City two days later.
“We need to build on what we have, build on the momentum that we had today,” McGill said. “We have to continue to play at this high pace.”
Cam Kauffman can be reached at kauf8536@stthomas.edu.